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 call “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.

Sept Group

Name

Dewar

See MacIndeor

Lenny

Lennie, MacAldonich, MacRob, MacWattie, MacQuattie, Watt, Watters, Waters, Watson.

Gilbert

Gibb, Gibbon, MacCubbin, Gibson, Gilbert, Gilbertson and Gibbons

Harper

Harper, MacChruiter, MacWhirter, MacQuatter

MacAldonich

MacAldonich

MacAslan

Cousland, Macauselan, M’Auselan, Macausland, Macaslan, Macauslan, Macaslin

MacColman

Colman, MacColman, MacCalmont, Dove, Dow, Murchie, Murchison, MacMurchie, MacMaster, Masters, Masterson, Rusk, Ruskin

MacCormack

Carmack, Cormack, Cramick

MacGreusich

MacGeorge

MacIndeor

MacAndeoir, MacIndeoir, MacIndoe, Dewar, Dewars

MacKinlay

Donleavy, Leavy, Macinally

MacMaurice

Morrice, Morris, MacMaurice, Morrison (of Perthshire only)

MacNuyer

MacNeur, MacNuir, MacNeir, Weir

MacRobb

MacRob(b)

Risk

Risk

Spittel

Spittle, Spittal

Yule

Yule, Yuille, Zuile

Watt

See Lenny

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

Bohannon
Buchanan
Coleman
Colman
Coleman
Cormack
Cousland
Dewar
Donleavy
Donlevy
Dove
Dow
Dowe
Gibb
Gibbon
Gibbs
Gibby
Gibson
Gilbert
Gilbertson
Harper
Harperson
Leavy

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