Available to all Maclean kin, the Clan’s badge is the most prolific symbol of the Clan Maclean throughout the world. Whether embroidered on clothing, engraved into jewelry, etched into crystal, pinned to a cap or lapel, or printed on stationery, any one who wishes to identify and support the Clan Maclean may use the badge to demonstrate their allegiance. When used on paper it is tradition that the badge should only be printed in monochrome, not emblazoned as seen here.
Macleans of Duart Badge
The Maclean badge was created by taking the crest from the Chief’s personal coat of arms and encircling it in a strap and buckle. The Chief’s motto was added to the strap to complete the badge.
The badge may be used by any member of the clan to identify themselves and their loyalties with the Clan Maclean and its Chief. It may be worn on any occasion and for any reason. Unlike the Chief’s coat of arms, the badge belongs to no one person, and may be affixed to anything without making it the property of the Chief.
Maclaines of Lochbuie Badge
The Macleans of Lochbuie created this badge by encircling the oldest universal symbol of the clan, a battle axe between laurel and cypress, in a strap and buckle. The Chief’s motto was added to the strap to complete the badge.
The badge may be used by any member of the clan to identify themselves and their loyalties with the Lochbuie branch of the Clan Maclean and its Chief and Chieftain. It may be worn on any occasion and for any reason. Unlike the Chief’s coat of arms, the badge belongs to no one person, and may be affixed to anything without making it the property of the Chief.
Macleans of Ardgour, Coll, and Morvern
Macleans of the many other branches, including Ardgour, Coll, and Morvern and others use a badge encircling the oldest universal symbol of the clan, a battle axe between laurel and cypress, in a strap and buckle. These branches share the same motto, take from the arms of their Chiefs, which was added to the strap to complete the badge.
The motto “Altera Merces” translated “A Different Reward” often appear above the axe and branches in a banner, especially in older records.
The Laurel, Axe, and Cypress
The Macleans have used an axe surrounded by branches of laurel (left) and cypress (right) as a general symbol of clan association. This symbol is probably the oldest mark of clan and the only truly universal symbol for the Clan Maclean, transcending the family and sept branches. It is long used by clan members on their personal items, such as stationary, to denote their association with the Clan Maclean.
The axe is clearly a reference to the weapon of choice of our first chief, Gilleain na Tuaighe (Gillian of the Battle Axe). The laurel branches are universally symbolic of victory. The cypress branch is infrequently used as a heraldic symbol, and most often a symbol of death followed by eternal life. The use of cypress to symbolize death may have been carried to Britain by the Romans, who used its branches extensively in their burial rites. The combination is apparently a visual representation of a clan motto, “Death or Life.” Death being symbolized by the cypress branch and life (and victory) being symbolized by the laurel branch.
The words “Altera Merces” translated “A Different Reward” often appear above the axe and branches in a banner, especially in older records.
It is important to note that these particular emblems have no definite shape recognized by the Lord Lyon; any battle axe when paired with two branches (one of laurel and one of cypress) may be used to represent support of the Clan Maclean; however it is most commonly represented by crossing the laurel and cypress behind a lochaber axe crossed in the shape of St. Andrew’s Cross. The Maclaines of Lochbuie use a spear-tipped axe rather than the locharber axe. They may also be worn, used or flown on any occasion and for any reason.