With A Name Like McCauslin, Would Buchanan's Approve?

[Chas]

Hi Jake,

I have a database of some 30,000 Scottish surnames.

From it, I can see that MacCausland, McCaslin, MacAuselan, MacAuslan, MacAusland, MacAuslane, MacAuslane, MacAuslin, Aslan, Auslan, are septs of, or associated with, the name Buchanan.

One thing does appear reasonably certain. Most all of today's McCauslands are descended from the McCauslands of Ulster, Ireland. Evidence to date indicates that all are descended from Andrew McCausland who came to Ireland from Scotland with his brother, John, in about 1620. Their father is said to have been Baron MacAuslane of Dumbartonshire.

If this is to be believed, then it matters not that they came from Ireland as that was only a stopping off spot from the original home in Dumbartonshire.

I too come from the Buchanan line.

Regards

Chas

[Clockwork]

Thank you for your reply, Chas. I had been given the impression that the Buchanan tartan would be safe to associate with, but I wasn't too sure if my most recent ancestors having come from Ireland would prevent me from associating with the clan. I may only end up acquiring a limited number if high quality wool kilts as I build up my wardrobe, so I want to chose carefully when it comes to those. I believe the Buchanan may be on the top of that list now.

It's kind of funny; when I was picking out my first tartan kilt on the SWK website (was looking for an inexpensive introduction), the Buchanan tartan really caught my eye, which I found curiously odd considering I'm not the biggest fan of reds and yellows. It was a toss up between it and the Scottish National, and I ended up going with the latter due only to the fact that green is my favorite colour and it was more of a universal tartan.

Cheers,
-Jake