A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Maclean family of England.
Reg. 1364 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st, or, a rock ppr.; 2nd, ar. a dexter hand couped in fesse ppr. holding a cross crosslet fitchée gu.; 3rd, az. a galley, sails furled and a flag gu.; 4th, in chief two eagles' heads erased gu. in base az. a salmon naiant ar”
SussexHaremere Hall · Sussex, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Maclean arms are recorded
The Maclean arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Maclean arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sussex.
Origin & History of the Maclean Family in England
The history of the Maclean name is deeply rooted in the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, where the family first established itself as a powerful clan. The name itself comes from the Gaelic phrase *Mac Gille Eathain*, which translates to the son of the servant of Saint John. While the clan is famously associated with the islands of Mull and Tiree, members of the family began to migrate across the British Isles as trade and political shifts changed the social landscape. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were living in Sussex, showing that the Macleans were already moving away from their traditional northern territories to establish new lives in southern England. This early presence in Sussex highlights how the family adapted to new regions while maintaining their distinct identity during a time of significant transition in British history.
Maclean Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Gille Eathain
Son of the servant of Saint John
This name
MacleanA Scottish Gaelic surname denoting descent from a devotee of Saint John.
also spelled
McLean
MacLaine
MacLain
Related arms
Maclainevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLean, J. P., A History of the Clan MacLean, 1889
Sellar, W. D. H., The Ancestry of the MacLeans of Duart, 1971
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
