Here and the next two pages are the generations of Buchanan's and their Irish forebearers. This page is largely historical and gathered from many sources. If you are interested, please check out the Acknowledgement page.

This first page begins about 320 A.D. and follows the lines of Northern Irish monarchs to about 1016 A.D. Page two continues the line in Scotland and to the end of the 1600's. Page three picks up in Colonial Maryland and brings us to the present. Select from one of the pages below. You are already on Page 1.

EOCHAIDH MUIGHMHEADHOIN was born in Ireland, and died 365 in Teamhair, Ireland. He married CARINNA.

Notes for EOCHAIDH MUIGHMHEADHOIN
Muireadhach Tireach, sovereign of Ireland beginning in 326 A.D. and ending in 356 when he was slain by Caelbhadh, son of Crunn, King of Uladh. Caelbhadh reigned until he was killed in 358 by Muireadhach's son Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin.

Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, king of Ireland for eight years beginning 358 A.D. The first mention of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin is in the Age of Christ, 326. The Annals of Clonmacnoise note that, "Eochy reigned eight years and was called Moymeoyn; in English, moyst-middle, because he was much troubled with the flux of the belly."

Notes for CARINNA
Carinna, was the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the most illustrious of his sons, from whom the Ui-Neill, or Nepotes Neill, north and south descended.

Child of EOCHAIDH MUIGHMHEADHOIN and CARINNA is:

1. NIALL NOIGIALLACH, d. Bet. 405 - 453

NIALL NOIGIALLACH died Bet. 405 - 453.

Notes for NIALL NOIGIALLACH
Niall Noigiallach (also known as Niall of the Nine Hostages) came to power in 379 and died around 405 A.D. when he was slain by Eochaidh, son of Enna Ceinnseallach, at Muir n-Ict, "the sea between France and England." King Niall is thought to be the first of "The High Kings of Tara," a dynasty that ended in 1186 A.D. "This great Monarch Niall had fourteen sons, of whom eight left issue, who are set down in the following order by O'Flaherty (Ogygia, iii. 85):" His first four children remained in county Meath. The other four settled in Ulster, where they acquired extensive territories.

Children of NIALL NOIGIALLACH are:

1. LAEGHAIRE, d. 458, MeathCo., Ireland.
2. CONALL CREMHTHOINN, d. 475, Meath Co., Ireland.
3. FIACHA, d. Meath Co., Ireland.
   Fiacha, from whom the Mageoghegans and the O'Molloys are descended.
4. MAINE, d. 440, Meath Co., Ireland.
   Maine, died in 440. It is from him that O'Caharny, now Fox, O'Breen and Magawley, and their correclatives in Teffia are descended.
5. PRINCE OF ULSTER EOGHAN, d. 465, Uisce-Chain, Donegal Co., Ireland.
6. CONALL GULBAN, d. Leitrim Co., Ireland.
   Conall Gulban, was slain by the old tribes of Magh-Slecht, he having been found unprotected (one source says that he "had gone on a predatory excursion into their territory, and seized upon a great prey of horses; but he was pursued and overtaken at Loch Saloch, near Fenagh, in the county of Leitrim, where he was slain and buried" and was buried at Fidhnach-Maighe-Rein by Saint Caillin. He was the ancestor of the O'Donnells.
7. CAIRBRE
   Cairbre's descendants are said to have settled in the barony of Carbury, in the now county of Sligo, and in the barony of Granard, in the county of Longford.
8. ENDA FINN
   Enda Finn, whose race settled in Tir-Enda, in Tirconnell, and in Kinel-Enda, near the hill of Uisneach, in Westmeath.

LAEGHAIRE died 458 in Meath Co., Ireland.

Notes for LAEGHAIRE
Laeghaire, who gained power in 428. He was a contemporary of St. Patrick, but remained a non-Christian, and in fact had made a promise to his father Niall, to never give up on his pagan beliefs. From him are descended the O'Coindhealbhains or Kendellans of Ui-Laeghaire. He ruled Ireland for thirty years.

He fought the battle of Ath-dara [the Ford of the Oak] and was captured by the Leinstermen. He took swore an oath by the Sun and the Wind never to demand the Borumha [a tribute] from the Leinstermen as long as he lived. He died in 458 by the side of Caissi, between Eire and Alba, "ie. two hills which are in Ui-Faelain" [also known as Ireland and Scotland].

Children of LAEGHAIRE are

1. FEDHLIM
   Fedhlim gave St. Patrick the lands of Ath-Truim.
2. LUGHAIDH
   Lughaidh(??) became sovereign over Ireland in 479 and remained so until 503, when he was killed at Achadh-farcha after being in power for 25 years.

CONALL died 475 in Meath Co., Ireland.

Notes for CONALL CREMHTHOINN
Conall Cremhthoinn died in 475. He was the ancestor of the O'Melaghlins and the Aedh Slaine.

Child of CONALL CREMHTHOINN is:

1. FEARGHUS CERRBHEL
   Fearghus Cerrbhel, who killed Oilioll Molt, son of Dathi, son of Fiachra in 478.

PRINCE OF ULSTER EOGHAN died 465 in Uisce-Chain, Donegal Co., Ireland.

Notes for PRINCE OF ULSTER EOGHAN: Eoghan, from whom are descended the Cinel-Eoghain (rough translation: the Race, or Clan, of Eoghain). He died "of grief" for his brother Conall Gulban in 465 and was buried at Uisce-Chain [in the county of Donegal]. He is the ancestor of the O'Neill and various correlative families. Also known as Eogain MacNeill.

Child of PRINCE OF ULSTER EOGHAN is:

1. MUIREADHACH

MUIREADHACH

Notes for MUIREADHACH:
Muireadhach, son of Eoghan, Prince of Ulster. He, in turn, had at least one son, Muirchertach mac Erc (or Muirceardach, king of Ireland.)

Child of MUIREADHACH is:

1. MUIRCHERTACH MAC ERC, d. Bet. 534 - 536.

MUIRCHERTACH MAC ERC died Bet. 534 - 536.

Notes for MUIRCHERTACH MAC ERC:
Muirchertach mac Erc [or Earc] (of Ailech, Aileach (pronounced el-yach) was a fortress in County Donegal), son of Muireadhach, who came to power as the King of Ireland in 504. He died in 534 A.D. after having been sovereign over Ireland for twenty-four years. Also known as Muirchertach macErcae O'Neill.

Child of MUIRCHERTACH MAC ERC is:

1. DOMNALL ILCHEGACH, d. 566

DOMNALL ILCHEGACH died 566

Notes for DOMNALL ILCHEGACH:
Muirchertach's son, Domnall Ilchegach (of Ailech), died 566. His name was also listed as "Donal" who died in 561. Also known as Domnall macMuirchertaig O'Neill.

Child of DOMNALL ILCHEGACH is:

1. AED ALLAN MAC DOMNALL, d. Bet. 607 - 612

AED ALLAN MAC DOMNALL died Bet. 607 - 612

Notes for AED ALLAN MAC DOMNALL:
Domnall's son, Aed Allan mac Domnall (also known as Aedh Uaridnach of Ailech (or Lodh, d. 607), died 612. Also known as Aed Uarid Nach macDomnaill O'Neill.

Child of AED ALLAN MAC DOMNALL is:

1. LORD OF THE CINEL-EOGHAIN MAELFITHRIGH, d. Bet. 626 - 630

LORD OF THE CINEL-EOGHAIN MAELFITHRIGH died Bet. 626 - 630.
Notes for LORD OF THE CINEL-EOGHAIN MAELFITHRIGH: Aed's son, Maelfithrigh, Lord of the Cinel-Eoghain, died 626 in the "battle of Leathairbhe between Maelfithrigh, chief of Cinel-Mic-Earca, and Ernaine, son of Fiachra, chief of Cineal-Fearadhaigh, where Maelfithrigh, son of Aedh Uairidhnach, was slain." Also known as Mael Fithrich MacAedo Uaridnaigh O'Neill.

Child of LORD OF THE CINEL-EOGHAIN MAELFITHRIGH is:

1. MAELDUIN, d. 705

MAELDUIN died 705

Notes for MAELDUIN:
Maelfithrigh's son, Maelduin, died 705 when "the battle of Leathairbhe [was gained] by Congal, son of Fearghus Fanad, over the Cinel-Eoghain, where Maelduin, son of Maelfithrigh, Lord of the Cinel-Eoghain, was slain."

Child of MAELDUIN is:

1. FEARGHAL10, d. Bet. 718 - 722

FEARGHAL died Bet. 718 - 722

Notes for FEARGHAL:
Maelduin's son, Fearghal became the 156th Monarch of all Ireland. His name is also noted as "Fergus," "Fargal," and "Fergal mac Maeleduin." Also known as Fergal MacMael Duin O'Neill. He assumed power of Ireland in the year 709 A.D. Another source (O'Flaherty) places his accession at 711. He was killed in the battle of Almhain (also known as Allen) in the year 718, according to the Annals.

He was killed by "Dunchandh, son of Murchadh, and Aedh, son of Colgan, an heir presumptive to the sovereignty." He was also known as the King of the Kinel-Owen. The Chart indicates that he married Aithiochte, daughter of Cein O'Connor, King of Connaught.

Children of FEARGHAL are:

1. AEDH ALLAN MAC FERGHAL, d. Bet. 738 - 743
   Aedh Allan mac Ferghal became King of Ireland in 730. He reigned at least seven years, and died in 738 or 743.
2. NIALL FROSSAGH, b. Bet. 715 - 716; d. 778, Iona, Scotland.
   Niall Frossagh, b. 716 or 715. Niall had a healthy reign as king of Ireland himself, beginning in 759 and resigned in 763, "and after a reign of seven years, he became a monk in the monastery of Iona in Scotland in 770, and died there in 778.
3. MURCHADH, d. 736
   Murchadh, who died in 736.
4. CONCHOBOR, b. Londonberry, Ireland; d. 773
5. BADHBRIGHAL, d. 750
   Badhbrighal, slain in 750 in the battle of Ceann-Fheabhrat.

CONCHOBOR was born in Londonberry, Ireland, and died 773

Notes for CONCHOBOR:
Conchobor (or Connor) Prince of Lein-an-Madaidh (or Linavady), Londonderry, Ireland, brother of Niall Prasach [Frossagh] of Ailech, 162nd Monarch of all Ireland, d. 773. Also known as Conchobhair O'Neill.

Child of CONCHOBOR is:

1. GRUAGAN

GRUAGAN

Child of GRUAGAN is:

1. DUNGAN

DUNGAN

Child of DUNGAN is:

1. CATHAIN

CATHAIN

Child of CATHAIN is:

1. DERMOD OKYAN

DERMOD OKYAN

Notes for DERMOD OKYAN:
Dermod Okyan, provincial King of the southern part of Ulster, Ireland.

Child of DERMOD OKYAN is:

1. ANSELAN BUEY, b. 980, Ulster Co., Ireland.
   Anselan (or Absolon) Buey (or fair Okyan or Bocainain, anglicized Buchanan.) According to the Clan Buchanan History (circulated by the Clan Buchanan Society in America):

   It is said, that after seven centuries of raiding, the Danes, under Swein The Fork Beard took control of most of England and Ireland in 1013 and 1014. His son, Canute (994-1035), was to be made King of England. Swein ordered celebrations which were to be held in Limerick, Western Ireland, now Eire, and instructions were given for 1,000 beautiful daughters of the Irish nobility to be present. Instead, however, the same number of Irish youths were dispatched, disguised in women's habits, with long Irish Scains (daggers) concealed below their cloaks. A massacre of the Danes followed. One of these youths was Buey Anselan O Kyan, or O Cahan, which is pronounced O Kane, son of the King of the Fourth Part of Ulster (Northern Ireland). In 1016, as a result of this exploit, he fled Ireland and emigrated to Argyll in Scotland.

   Eventually he acquired lands in the Lennox, either by marriage, or as a reward for services rendered to King Malcolm II of Scotland (1005-1034). Lennox was broadly known to extend from Glenfruin in the west to Fintry in the east. In addition, Anselan was granted Arms practically identical to those used by the Buchanan Society of Scotland today. All records of Irish insignia have long since disappeared.