Naming traditions of Scottish Highland Clans

Question

The following description from 1898 is about my husband, Michel Clement’s Clan ancestors.                          

The Early Settlers of Indian River, Prince Edward Island, Canada, by John R. McLellan, Indian River, March, 1898 from The Summerside Journal, Prince Edward Island,Wednesday, March 9, 1898 

About the year 1787, John and Angus McLellan, with their families, came to PEI Island from Glaich Liath at the foot of Ben Corodale, on the east side of Beinn Mhór, on Loch Oinart, near the point of Uisinish. South Uist, one of the western islands of Scotland.

When their landlord, the chief of Clan Ranald, heard of their intention to emigrate, he tried to prevent them.         

The Clan McLellan lived in the South of Scotland, where the ivy covered ruins of their castle still stands, in the shiretown of Kirkcudbright. The forefathers of the McLellans of Indian River and of their kin of Grand River, belonged to the clan MacIain (John) of Glencoe. They never changed their surname to that of their chief, as a great many did for empty honours. Does anyone know what this last paragraph refers to…..McLellan, McIain? Why would they be living on land owned by the chief of Clan Ranald?

Answer 1

South Uist is a ways from Kirkcudbright, and I suppose they just had a landlord (as mentioned), instead of owning the land. That mention seems to me to be for those two specific individuals, not that the whole clan lived on land owned by the chief of Clan Ranald. Seems like another incentive to go find their way in Canada.

Many people changed their surname (although apparently not the McLellan/McIains) to reflect allegiance or even just based on the area in which they lived (to distinguish between John (who lived in the Ranald clan area) and the John (who lived in the Crawford clan area). Your author refers to this as "empty honors", which could refer to trying to curry favor from the local clan chieftains by showing allegiance. Politics.

Answer 2

not sure of the history that is stated here but Maclain of Glen Coe was chief of Clan MacDonald, at least before the massacre. Clan Ranald is a branch of Clan Donald. There may have been confusion of a surname always indicating a clan.

As to not taking the chief's name, that wasn't always done. Lands in Scotland periodically changed hands after battles between clans.

McLellans were in multiple places in Scotland. There were quite a few in the Western Isles which was pretty much under Macdonald of Clanranald control.

Clan Donald is complex. https://highcouncilofclandonald.com has a breakdown of names and areas.