Buchanan/ MacLae/Donleavy Link

James Buchanan · Post by **James Buchanan** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:45 pm

Hi all and a Merry Xmas! I have a couple of questions that some here may be able to answer: In popularist Clan Books MacLae/Donsleavy are often put down as Septs of Buchanan.I've done an awful lot of research on my surname (I live near Edinburgh) and haven't found any real links.Anyone any ideas? I did however find a Jon MacCondie alias Buchanan in the Records of the Privy Council along with a whole bunch of Buchanans outlawed for some interclan scrap or another. Any Gaelic speakers know if this would be pronounced in a similar way as MacConley perhaps? On another note, I luckily aquired 'Adventures in Legend' by The Marquis of Lorne whilst in Callander recently. There are several references to the Lismore Barons in that book which I'll happily quote if people aren't already aware of them. Cheers, Jamie

Bachuil · Post by **Bachuil** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:24 pm

Merry Christmas, James Popularist Clan Books are a decidedly mixed blessing. On p125-6 of the most prestigous Clan Reference "Clans Septs and Regiments" by Adams and Learney, second edition it mentions some confusion about the Dunleavy, Mackinlay

James Buchanan · Post by **James Buchanan** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:35 pm

If you send me an e-mail address I'll scan the relevant pages and they could possibly be used on the website.In retrospect it's quite a long story that'll suffer from being shortened.

James Buchanan · Post by **James Buchanan** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:52 pm

Actually , after a more careful view of the website the story is already there in the 'Celtic Review' article 1909 about the Stewart of Ardnamurchan and the Baron and his two red haired sons and daughters. Same

Rob Livingston2 · Post by **Rob Livingston2** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:53 pm

Hi Jamie, All of the DNA evidence generated so far would indicate that there is a 95% chance the chieftains of Clan Buchanan and the MacLea chief had a common ancestor who was born from between 600 and 850 years ago.

Bachuil · Post by **Bachuil** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:53 pm

Rob, I hate to take issue publicly but the references to Mac Duinnshleibhe are very much earlier than 1309. According to Byrne the Ulaid rigdamnai alone used the name Mac Duinnshleibhe

James Buchanan · Post by **James Buchanan** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:19 am

The Privy Council records for that particular piece of info are dated 1641. I believe that there is an early link between a lot of the Ecclesiastical clans, the early Buchanans being possessors of the bell and alms of St Kessog and Clerics to the Lennox Earls and the Leny Buchanans keepers of a tooth of StFillan . I don't know enough about the early middle ages to really comment, but I'm working on it! Cheers, Jamie

Grant South1 · Post by **Grant South1** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:20 am

Dear Rob, Given the history and regional association- I think it likely that the MacGregor's and the Buchanan's may share a similar origin from Siol Alpin. All the best!

Andrew Lancaster4 · Post by **Andrew Lancaster4** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 3:23 pm

Hi Niall Of course this is a very important citation, but how do we know that this Mac Duinnsleibhe family is the same as our clan? And if we do not know for sure, then surely we have to consider all options? Donleavy in its various forms was obviously a Northern Irish and therefore Argyll personal name, and obviously all such names were used in patronymic and family names. For example the evidence for the way that Mac Dunsleibhe could become MacLea was based upon members of another family, right (I believe the Macquarries of Ulva)? It would of course be good if you could answer: but the Macquarries have the same DNA also, but at this stage I don't think we know this, and so we have to assume there were multiple families (at least multiple patrilineal families) using this name. Still, I am sure no one will disagree that what you say is the "null hypothesis" so to speak. But I do very much admire Rob's lateral thinking. Best Regards Andrew

Bachuil · Post by **Bachuil** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:24 pm

Hi Andrew My point is that we don't know which Dunsleve is our ancestor.