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THE CLAN TEARLACH, or Macleans of the North, are descendants of the eldest son of Hector Regeanach, who with his brother Lachlan Lubanach, are the earliest recorded Macleans. With the increasing power of the Lords of the Isles in the late 14th century, `Tearlach Maclean was Constable of Urquhart Castle. After the end of the Lordship, the Clan Tearlach attempted, for a century, to hold lands both near Loch Ness and Morven in the West Highlands. Hector Maclean, Seneschal of Urquhart 1440, married Mor, daughter of Mackintosh of Clan Chattan, and signed the Clan Chattan Bond on Clan Tearlach's behalf. Several of the family held office in the medieval church before Donald Maclean possesed the rich lands of Inverness Castle at Dochgarroch. In 1609 his son, Alexander Maclean of Dochgarroch signed the Clan Chattan Bond on behalf of the Clan Tearlach and though thereafter family allegiance was largely with the Clan Chattan, they also kept associations with their kinsmen in the West. Many Maclean fam ilies in Inverness-shire were allied to Clan Tearlach, including the Macleans of Kingairloch, and of Westfield by Elgin. Various families, including the Gilleans or Gilzeans, are considered septs of Clan Tearlach. The Macleans of Dochgarroch fought in the Jacobite cause and later in the British Army. More recently several of the family have been clergymen and historians.
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