Old Photograph MacLean Shop Dingwall Scotland

Old photograph of women outside the MacLean shop in Dingwall, Scotland. MacLean, Maclean, McLean, McClean, McLaine, and McClain is a Gaelic surname, MacGill Eain in Scottish Gaelic. There are several different origins for the surname McLean or MacLean, however, the clan surname is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic MacGilleEathain. This was the patronymic form of the personal name meaning " servant of Saint John " or the " son of the servant of Saint John ". The family grew very powerful throughout the Hebrides and Highlands through allegiances with the Catholic Church in the 9th century, the MacDonalds in the 13th century, the MacKays and MacLeods in the 16th century. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. In 1411 the Battle of Dingwall is said to have taken place between the Clan Mackay and the Clan Donald. Dingwall formerly served as the county town of the county of Ross and Cromarty. It lies near the head of the Cromarty Firth where the valley of the Peffery unites with the alluvial lands at the mouth of the Conon, 14 miles North West of Inverness.



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