The Earls of Lennox and The MacFarlane Chiefs
By Chuck Poland, Terrance Gach MacFarlane, and Andrew Macfarlane
© November 2012
The primary sources for this article are “History of Clan MacFarlane” by James MacFarlane (1922) and “Clergymen and Chiefs” by Alexander M. Quattlebaum (1990). Additional material was obtained from thepeerage.com and wikipedia.org.
For six centuries, the MacFarlanes, as barons of Scotland, influenced its history through their intermarriages, military achievements, and escapades. The entire line of MacFarlane chiefs, and the Earls of Lennox, from whom they originated, is included to enable you to visualize the impact that this one respected family had on the history of an entire country.
Mormaer of Lennox (c1050-): Murdac
Mormaer of Lennox (c1075-): Maldouen, (may have witnessed a charter of King David I to Glasgow in c. 1136).
Mormaer of Lennox (c1100): Murdac, married a daughter of Alwyn MacArkyl (who was prominent at the Court of King David I (1124-1153).
Last Mormaer and 1st Earl of Lennox (c1125-1177/8): Alwyn, elder son of Murdac, was created earl by William the Lion, King of Scotland, who was born in 1143 and died in 1214.
2nd Earl of Lennox (c1160-Bef 1217): Alwyn, son of Alwyn, 1st Earl of Lennox. He married Eva, daughter of Gilchrist, 1st Earl of Mentieth. The second Alwyn had eleven sons, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Malduin. Among the other sons of Alwyn, there appear to be only three who left any male descendants. One of these, Gilchrist (possibly the 7th son) obtained possession of the northern portion of the district of Lennox and became progenitor of the Clan Pharlan, the MacFarlanes, and was the first Baron of Arrochar.
3rd Earl of Lennox (-c1250): Malduin appears to have lived until shortly after 12 March 1250/1251. He surrendered to the king the stronghold of Dumbarton, which had previously been the principal seat of the family. He married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland, and was succeeded by his grandson.
4th Earl of Lennox (-c1303): Malcolm, who died about 1303, was a supporter of Margaret, the maid of Norway.