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MCCLELLAND Family History

Recorded in various spelling forms including MacClellan, MacLeland, McClelland and McLelland, this is a ancient Scottish surname. Widely recorded as well in Northern Ireland, it derives from the pre 9th century name Mac gille Haolain. This tranlates as the son of the follower of Faolan, with Mac meaning son of, gille, a follower or servant, and the personal name Faolan, meaning "wolf". The clan gave its name to the village of Balmaclellan in the county of Galloway, in the south west of Scotland. Alternate spellings of the name have included M'Lolane in 1306, McGillolane in 1359, McCleilane in 1522, and M'Cleanllane in 1605.