MacMillans in the Hebrides

Macmillans have probably been settled amongst the Western Isles for centuries since early descendants of Maolan belonged to the original Clann Ghille-Chattain, which in those days was a great Hebridean power. Argyll tradition has it that Macmillans were at onetime lairds of Glen Cannell on Mull, and Lochaber legend tells of Macmillans being employed in pre-Reformation times to row nuns across The Minch to the the Isle of Lewis.

The earliest Macmillans recorded in the Hebrides are all churchmen: John MacMoylane, Chaplain of St. Orans, Iona, in 1542; Fingon Makmulane, Dean of Mull in 1573; Donald Macmillan, Minister of The Uists in 1626 (when he was said to have been "a very auld man").

Some Macmillans on South Uist are said to be descended from clansmen who came from Lochaber as followers of the Clan Ranald Macdonalds, whose mainland estates marched with Glenpean - and Ewen Macmillan of Glenpean had a bond for 1000 merks in 1759 from Ronald Macdonald of Belfinlay (on Benbecula, the island between the two Uists - where there were also a number of Macmillans settled). In the 1820s Ewen Macmillan, father of Angus Macmillan the explorer of Gippsland in Australia, moved to South Uist from the Isle of Skye (where Angus had been born in about 1819), and became Tacksman of Kilbride. He was obviously a well-connected man and whilst on South Uist he lived in the mansion house previously occupied by Hugh Macdonald of Boisdale - and when he moved to Barra, where he farmed Eoligarry and Vaslan, he lived in Barra House.

Barra tradition has another story of how and when the Macmillans came to their island - dating it to the 18th century, and telling of the expulsion of Macmillans for succouring Macneils from Barra against the explicit orders of their laird, Macdonald of Boisdale. This story was taken to Canada by the descendants of one of those Macmillans, and told to the Reverend Chris McMullen by his cousin Father Allan MacMillan in the 1980s. Another member of the Barra clan was the celebrated storyteller and singer Father John Macmillan, who died in 1951.

Further north in the Outer Hebrides, some Macmillans on Lewis claim to be descended from a certain Maoldomhnuich Mor who settled on Harris "seven generations back" (presumably from the 1950s when Somerled MacMillan recorded the tradition in The MacMillans and their Septs). Also from the Isle of Lewis was the late Malcolm K. MacMillan, who was Labour MP for the Western Isles for many years - and also a published poet.

M'Millans in 1841 and 1911 census'.

In contrast to the mainland areas, the numbers of people bearing the name M'millan on the Hebrides increased between the census' of 1841 and 1911. Lewis, Harris, Bernera, and St Kilda had 169 in 1841, and 346 in 1911; while North & South Uist, Benbecula, and Barra had 265 in 1841, and 277 in 1911.

Articles relating to Hebridean Macmillans in Clan MacMillan International magazines and newsletters.

The MacMillans on Benbecula - June 2012 CMI newsletter.

Father John McMillan, Bard of Barra - CMI Magazine Nov./Dec. 2012, Issue 17.