Because Buchanan was originally a place name, and only after several centuries was used as a surname, we have many allied or associated family names. These families are called “Septs”. If your name is on this list then you are very likely a member of the Clan Buchanan.
Buchanan!
Name spelling variations
Early written renderings of the name include among others: Balgquhannen, Balquhannan, Baquhanan, Bochannane, Bochannen, Bohanan, Bohannon, Boquehennan, Boquhannane, Boquhennane, Bowhanan, Bowhannan, Bucchanane, Buchanane, Buchanen, Buchannan, Buchannand, Buchannane, Buchanne, Buchannen, Buchannent, Buchquhannane, Buchquannan, Buchunnuch, Bucquanane, Buquhannan, Buquhannane, Buquhannanne, and Buquannane. More recent spellings include Buckanon, Buchannon, Bocanan, Buchanan etc.
And, as we spread internationally we have recorded Bochanen and Bochane from the Netherlands (with verified origins to Buchanan).
The original name of the Clan is the MacAuslan: Cousland, Macauselan, Macauslane, Macaslan, Macauslans, Maccasland, Macaslin, Macausland, M’Auselan. Our DNA research shows them to be the ancestors of the Buchanan chiefly line and were first recorded in the 11th century.
The name Buchanan (as a surname) was taken from the land and adopted by Gilbert "Buchanan" around 1231 C.E.
Heatmap of surname Buchanan, created from the United Kingdom 1881 census and the Griffith Valuation for 1853-1865. By Scaled Innovation. Click to enlarge.
List of Septs and Associated Family Names of the Clan Buchanan
What’s a Sept, Cadet or Laird?
Primary Sept Groupings:
These are the recognized septs of the Clan. For an alphabetical list of names go HERE
We continue to search for Clan, Family and Sept history; click on a linked name in the list below to see more detail. If you have any information on your family history, please use the contact form to let us know, so we can increase our collective knowledge.
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Sept Group |
Name |
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Dewar |
See MacIndeor |
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Lennie, MacAldonich, MacRob, MacWattie, MacQuattie, Watt, Watters, Waters, Watson. |
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Gibb, Gibbon, MacCubbin, Gibson, Gilbert, Gilbertson and Gibbons |
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Harper, MacChruiter, MacWhirter, MacQuatter |
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MacAldonich |
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Cousland, Macauselan, M’Auselan, Macausland, Macaslan, Macauslan, Macaslin |
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Colman, MacColman, MacCalmont, Dove, Dow, Murchie, Murchison, MacMurchie, MacMaster, Masters, Masterson, Rusk, Ruskin |
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Carmack, Cormack, Cramick |
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MacGeorge |
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MacAndeoir, MacIndeoir, MacIndoe, Dewar, Dewars |
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Donleavy, Leavy, Macinally |
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Morrice, Morris, MacMaurice, Morrison (of Perthshire only) |
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MacNeur, MacNuir, MacNeir, Weir |
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MacRob(b) |
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Risk |
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Spittle, Spittal |
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Yule, Yuille, Zuile |
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Watt |
See Lenny |
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Weir |
See MacNuyer |
Many of these names derive from the forename or even the nickname of one of our chiefs or lairds. For instance the name Gibson derives from the nickname for Gilbert (one of our chiefs) which is Gibb and his son's were called - you got it - Gibsons! Others can derive from an occupation, such as Harper or Rusk (a tanner) in service to a chief. Still other names come from towns, villages or areas within Buchanan territories such as Len(n)y.
If your name is on this list then you are very likely a member of the Clan Buchanan. If you are in doubt feel free to contact us at info@theclanbuchanan.com and please consider supporting our work to promote the history and traditions of our clan by joining today.
A NOTE ON SPELLING: There are many hundreds of variations in the spelling of these names. If yours is not an exact match, don’t worry we are familiar with them all. “Mac” and “Mc” are also fairly interchangeable.
Alphabetical list of common names associated with the Clan Buchanan
Lennie
Lenny
Macaldonich
Macalman
Macandeior
Macaslan
Macaslin
Macauslan
Macauslane
MacCalman
MacCalmont
MacCammond
MacCasland
MacChruiter
MacColman
MacColwan
MacCommon
MacCormack
MacCubie
MacCubbin
MacCubbing
MacGeorge
MacGibbon
MacGilbert
MacGreusich
MacGubbin
MacInally
MacIndeor
MacIndoe
MacKinlay
Mackinley
Macmaster
MacMaurice
MacMorris
MacMurchie
MacMurphy
MacNuir
MacNuyer
MacQuatters
MacQuattie
MacRobb
MacWattie
MacWhirter
Masters
Masterson
Morris
Morrison *of Perth only
Murchie
Murchison
Richardson
Risk
Rusk
Ruskin
Spittal
Spittel
Spittle
Walter
Walters
Wason
Waters
Watson
Watt
Watters
Weir
Yool
Yuille
Yule
Zuill(e)
Principal references :
F. Adam, T. Innes of Learney, The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, 1975 (originally published 1907)
Collins Guide to Scots Kith & Kin: A Guide to the Clans & Surnames of Scotland, Harper Collins, Revised edition 1989
