Fàilte · Welcome
A thousand years of family. One tent away.
From the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll to Highland games across North America, the MacLachlans, MacEwens and Gilchrists are still gathering. Your name may already be part of the story.
Welcome home, cousin.
We are the North American branch of the worldwide Clan Maclachlan Society: a volunteer-run, non-profit family association for everyone descended from the MacLachlans and their kin, whatever your spelling and however many generations ago your people crossed the ocean.
We keep the history, share the stories, host the tent at Highland games, and welcome every newcomer who walks up and asks, “Am I one of you?”
Start exploring
Our history
From Irish kings to Highland chiefs
Descended from the O’Neill High Kings of Ireland, settled on Loch Fyne for some 800 years, and present at Culloden in 1746.
Your name
500+ spellings, one family
McLaughlin, Claflin, Gilchrist, MacEwen, Lachlan, McGlothlin… Search the list and see if your surname belongs.
Events
Find us at the games
Our volunteer conveners host the MacLachlan tent at Highland games and Celtic festivals across North America.
The clan at a glance
25
Chiefs of the clan, from Gilchrist to today’s Euan Maclachlan of Maclachlan
1308
The year a MacLachlan chief sat in Robert the Bruce’s first Parliament
500+
Known spellings of MacLachlan, Gilchrist and MacEwen
1978
The year the Association was founded, after a meeting at the Grandfather Mountain tent
A living clan
A chief, a castle, and a homeland you can visit
Clan MacLachlan still has its hereditary chief: Euan Maclachlan of Maclachlan, 25th Chief and Baron of Strathlachlan, who lives at Castle Lachlan on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne. Nearby, the ruins of Old Castle Lachlan, home to the chiefs until 1746, stand on their point of land above Lachlan Bay.
Members travel there on clan tours, and the chief’s family has welcomed North American MacLachlans for decades.
“Fortis et Fidus” · Strong and Faithful
The motto of Clan MacLachlan
What’s happening
Upcoming
Coming up
From the News
Latest stories
AGM reports, games recaps, and messages from the Chief will appear here once the News page is live.
Join the clan. Keep the story going.
Membership brings you The Roebuck newsletter, the Members Area with back issues and genealogy help, a vote at the Annual General Meeting, and a seat under the tent at every gathering. Most of all, it keeps a thousand-year-old family together.