SEPTS OF CLAN MACLAREN

A branch or division of a clan, a sept is an affiliation to the clan by a small group but it is now more loosely used to cover a variety of surnames which are linked in some way.  In some cases the link can be traced but in others there is only a bare tradition and it may not be possible to show the derivation.  Many sept names are complicated in as much as a surname may be claimed by more than one clan as a sept name.  During the 1800s there was a surge of enthusiasm for all things Highland and many Lowland surnames were attached to traditional lists of sept names without justification. 

Because there is no exact equivalent in English of many Gaelic sounds, almost every name derived from Gaelic is found in a variety of forms in written English.  The spelling of a name can become irrelevant.  MacLaren, McLaren, McLaurin, McCleran, MacLaran and McLerane can be taken as exactly the same. 

Sept names in the Clan McLaren in the first group originating from Clan Labhran include Lawrence, Laurence, Lawrie and Laurie. 

A second group would include the largest and best known sept of the Clan McLaren - Patterson (or Paterson), with the Gaelic equivalents MacFater, MacFeat, MacPatrick and MacPhater.