'Clarior Hinc Honos'
The beginnings of Clan Buchanan are not accurately recorded but probably started about the time of King Canute during the 11th century. It is thought that Anselem O'Kyan, the son of the king of South Ulster, was fleeing from Canute, who was in control of parts of Ireland, and made his way across to Scotland. Here Anselan was in the service of King Malcolm II to deal with intruders from Scandinavia and was rewarded with large tracts of land in the region close to the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. His son Gilbert was known by the name of Macauselan which is the Gaelic word for Buchanan having established the family in the lands known as Buchanne .
The exact truth behind the clan's origins will probably never be known but a charter of 1225 records that Sir Absalon of Buchanan was granted the island of Clairinch in Loch Lomond by the Earl of Lennox thus confirming the hereditary lineage. During the 13th and 14th century the family had, through marriages and services to royalty, acquired large wealth and land. Patrick the 14th laird of Buchanan married into the Galbraith family which included Killearn a few miles from the shores of Loch Lomond. It is in the centre of this village where the imposing monument to George Buchanan is sited.
George Buchanan (1506-1582) is considered one of the leading scholars of the time. He was fortunate to receive a good education which took him to the Sorbonne in Paris and then a degree at St Andrews university. He was a writer and teacher and became tutor to the son of King James V. He was much in favour of the Reformation of the monasteries which upset the Roman Catholic church. He was forced to seek refuge in France.
Other notable Buchanans include James Buchanan (1791-1868) who became the 15th president of the USA, Isaac Buchanan (1810-1882) who was an industrialist and became one of the founding fathers of Canadian government.
The main lineage of Buchanan came to an end in 1682 when John died leaving no male heir. He had also become impecunious and much of the estate was sold to the Montrose family. Various branches of the family have tried to accede to the clan leadership without success and today we are without a clan chieftain.
'Brighter Hence the Honour'
