More about The Clan Stewart

According to the Highland Papers there are many possible sources for the name Maclay. Some of these indicate there are other lines of genealogy than described above. The records we have of these early times come mainly from church documents. The person recording the birth, death, or other event spelled the names, since most people were illiterate. For this reason there are many spellings for names of this period. As long as they sound the same, they are the same name.

Among spellings that have been used over the last 700 years are Maconlea, Clan Leaw, Clan Leaws, Clan Leiw, Clan Laiws, Clan Laigh, Clan Leayn, Clan Laine, Mhic-a-Lea, M'Lea, McLea, McClea, Maclea, MacLea, Mac Leay, M'Clea, McClea, McCleay, McClay, Macleay, and Maclay. And this is not an exhaustive list. The name has never been easy to spell! Although we use the spelling Maclay, the name is more commonly Macleay in present-day Scotland, although Maclay and other spellings are also found.

The Highland Papers have a chapter "An Account of the Name McLea". Among the sources of the name is Leigh, Gaelic for physician or surgeon. Some McLeas were doctors in the early period of the Clan. It also states "As to the antiquity of the name McLea, it is generally thought that they are among the eldest of the Macks that came from Ireland to Scotland when the Scots first possessed Scotland, and they are at this time so old that they are almost worn out." And this was written in 1743!

Highland Papers, Vol. IV, 1296 to 1752, third Series, Scottish History Society, pages 94 to 103. Thomas McLea wrote this section in 1743 in Edinburgh.

Thomas McLea, the writer of this section of the Highland Papers concludes the following. "That the McLeas came originally from Ireland, along with the McDonalds. That their chief place of settlement was in the district of Cowal in Argyleshire. That they were Cadets, or rather followers, of the McDougalls of Lorn. That McLea of Linsaig in the parish of Kilfinan in Cowal seems to have been the chief or Head of the Clan. That the Livingstons and McLeas claim alliance to one another, accounting their names synonymous. That McLea is an Irish or Gaelic word, some Gaelic Interpreters rendering it in English. 'The living son,' from which Livingston is derived, and others render it 'the Physician's Son.' But there are no arms in Heraldry for McLea properly so termed, so that the arms of Livingston seem to be those that fall to be adopted for the name, and in order to combine therewith the other interpretation of the word. Physician's son (by which the McLeas's of Linsaig distinguished themselves in the figures of their Gravestones), some chirgical Instrument or Instruments may be added, such as a Lancet and Phial, or any other medical Insignia that may occur with these words below--Alt--'McLea,'--vic 'Livingson,' -vic 'Physician's son.'"

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