Clans of the North-East: Buchan

August 2009

The Buchan tartan, clansman’s crest badge, David Buchan of Auchmacoy, and his chiefly shield. Tartan courtesy of scottish tartans authority

by Gordon Casely

Captain David Buchan of Auchmacoy is the Welsh-born chief of Clan Buchan. Tall and distinguished looking, this one-time Gordon Highlanders officer is one clan chief who does not look the 80 years he will be next month. Maternally his descent goes back to a 14th century line in Buchan.

He was only 17 when his maternal grandfather, Norman, 18th Earl of Caithness, died in 1947, leaving him the estate of Auchmacoy near Ellon and the chiefship of Buchan. The conditions of the bequest included David adopting the surname of Buchan instead of his Welsh surname of Trevor, and that the young man should become a Regular soldier in the Gordons.

Capt. Buchan’s efforts have ensured that the lands of Auchmacoy have almost doubled in size, while Clan Buchan is a flourishing organisation with branches throughout the world. In today’s clan affairs, the octogenarian Auchmacoy has handed over to his eldest son Charles to represent him.

The clan society has grown following early days of approaches by Buchans in Buchan (where else?) to form a clan. The newsletter of Clan Buchan Association now reaches nearly 3,000 households worldwide, while a busy website covers considerably wider interest.

Famous Buchans

The Buchan clan takes its name from this knuckle-end of Scotland, a name which in turn may be derived from the Brythonic word bwch meaning cow. First recorded of the name is Ricardus de Buchan, clerk of the bishopric of Aberdeen around 1207 while in 1281 William de Buchan is recorded as holding land.

First chief was possibly Andrew Buchan of Auchmacwy, extant in 1446, but in centuries after that, the title languished until in 1830 James Buchan, 14th of Auchmacoy, was recognised as chief of the arms and name by then Lord Lyon the 11th Earl of Kinnoull.

One of the most famous of the name is John Buchan, 1st Lord Tweedsmuir, author, writer and MP, who died in office as governor-general of Canada in 1940. His most famous book The Thirty-Nine Steps has been made into films, and plays for radio and stage.

The chiefly motto Non inferior secutus can be translated as “I have not followed inferior things”.

Septs: The vexed question of “what is a sept?” becomes all the more apposite with Buchan, for the clan cheerfully announces that it has “no official septs”. Nevertheless many surnames have become linked to both the name Buchan, and legitimately and otherwise through the ancient earldom of Buchan. This basket of names is said to include Basken, Boyne, Buckie, Chapp, Chrystal, Clapperton, Crannach, Cruden, Cumming, Fitch, Hardman, Kermack, Merson, Mundy, Ogston, Prince, Ratcliff, Runcie, Tewnion, West and Whymon.

This is an article from the August 2009 edition of Leopard Magazine. To read much more like this every month, subscribe to Leopard Magazine.