Clan Logan

Welcome back to A Clan A Day Podcast, brought to you by bagtownclans.com. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today we’re delving into the complex and storied history of Clan Logan, a family whose tale stretches from the Lowlands of Galloway to the Highlands of Easter Ross. Their story is rich with legend, loyalty, and tragedy, with each branch—Lowland and Highland—contributing its own chapter to Scotland’s historical narrative.

The Lowland Logans are believed to have originated from Galloway, and their early history is closely tied to the Wars of Scottish Independence. Two Logan knights, Sir Robert and Sir Walter, died in 1329 while accompanying Sir James Douglas on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They carried the heart of Robert the Bruce, intending to lay it to rest in Jerusalem, but perished in battle against Moorish forces in Spain. This act of loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice remains one of the most heroic episodes in the history of the clan.

The Logan name itself derives from the Gaelic word "lagan" or "logie," meaning a hollow or low-lying land, which reflects the clan’s geographic origins. Place names such as Logan Water in the Pentland Hills and Port Logan in Wigtonshire suggest that the Logans were once widespread across Scotland. Despite their Lowland roots, the clan later gained significant influence in the Highlands, particularly in Easter Ross.

As we explore the Highland branch, we find the Logans of Drumderfit in the Black Isle. This branch claims descent from the chiefs of Druimanairig, in Wester Ross, where their ancestral seat was located. But the Highland story is shadowed by tragedy. The stronghold of the Logan chiefs once stood on a hill known as Druim-na-clavan, which after a bloody battle became known as Druim-an-deur, or "The Ridge of Tears." This battle saw the fall of the Logan chief, Gilliegorm, known as "The Blue Lad" due to his dark complexion. He was a fierce warrior who clashed with the powerful Fraser clan, but his defeat led to the downfall of the Logan stronghold and the near destruction of their line.

After the battle, Gilliegorm’s wife, who was pregnant, was taken captive by the Frasers. Their son, known as "Crotach," meaning "humpback" due to a deformity, escaped death only to grow up as a priest. Crotach is credited with founding churches across the Highlands, including Kilmore in Skye and Kilichrinan in Glenelg. His descendants eventually became part of the MacLennan clan, showing how intertwined the Logans and MacLennans became over time.

The Lowland Logans, meanwhile, rose to prominence in Edinburgh and Berwickshire, where they owned lands at Restalrig and Fastcastle. Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig, a major figure in the clan’s history, married Katherine Stewart, daughter of King Robert II. By 1400, Sir Robert was appointed Admiral of Scotland, cementing the Lowland Logans’ status as powerful nobles with royal connections. However, the family’s fortunes took a dark turn when Sir Robert’s descendant, another Sir Robert Logan, became embroiled in the infamous Gowrie Conspiracy of 1600, a mysterious plot that aimed to either kidnap or assassinate King James VI.

In a macabre twist, Sir Robert Logan died in 1606, but his involvement in the conspiracy came to light two years later through letters allegedly written by him. These letters implicated him deeply in the plot, and though he was already dead, his body was exhumed and brought to trial. Yes, you heard that right—Logan’s bones were paraded before Parliament to be convicted of treason posthumously. The verdict led to the forfeiture of the Logan estates, and the family name was proscribed, much like the fate of Clan Gregor a few years earlier.

The Highland and Lowland branches of Clan Logan had distinct paths, but they shared one key feature—resilience. Despite the tragedies that befell the clan, they endured through farming, commerce, and even religious life. Many of their descendants played significant roles in Scottish society, including James Logan, who accompanied William Penn to Pennsylvania in 1699 and later became governor of the colony.

Today, Clan Logan does not have a recognized chief, making it an armigerous clan, but its legacy lives on through its tartan, shared with the MacLennans, and its crest, which features a passion nail piercing a human heart—a symbol of the enduring spirit of this ancient family.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the history of Clan Logan. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for another episode of A Clan A Day Podcast. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald, and as always, go n-éirí an bóthar leat.