The family of "Maclachlan of Maclachlan" have been Chiefs of Clan Lachlan for about 750 years. The Chief still refers to himself as Chief of Clan Lachlan which is the anglicization of the Gaelic Clann Lachlainn. The use of the term Clan MacLachlan arose after the anglicization of Gaelic names by non-Gaelic speaking people. People were called MacLachlan and belonged to a clan so manufacturers assumed that they belonged to the Clan MacLachlan. The mighty MacDonalds did not follow this commercial trend. They correctly use Clan Donald for their clan society. When the Clan MacLachlan Society was founded in 1979, many particularly those with some Gaelic pressed for the more correct usage Clan Lachlan. Their views did not prevail but it was decided that the main communication vehicle of the Society be called clan lachlan!; the castle has been castle lachlan for 750 years; the CD was called clan lachlan CD; the Trust formed to preserve Kilmorie Chapel and old castle lachlan was called Lachlan Trust. The Clan MacLachlan Society was founded in 1979, some years after the Clan MacLachlan Association of North America was formed. This is a Clan Society with the President being the Chief of Clan Lachlan. It is a Celtic & Scottish Highland - based organization with autonomous units across the globe held together by a common Constitution, common objectives and a core of common services. Emphasis is placed on the "home" of the Clan being in Argyll, Scotland with the Chief as head and Scotland's Highland traditions paramount. A frequently asked question is, "Are Irish McLaughlins eligible for membership in a Scottish Highland Clan Society?" The short answer is "yes." First for the majority of members it is difficult to trace their ancestry before the middle of the 18th century and in many cases an apparent Irish McLaughlin, Laughlin, etc., could have Scottish ancestry but there is no recorded evidence in either case. There has been for centuries migration in both directions across the Irish Sea. Family tradition may be the most important evidence. Secondly if we go back before the 13th century all MacLachlans have a common Irish Ancestry. We are all Celtic MacLochlainns, we all share a common Celtic heritage, we are all cousins by blood. Therefore a person bearing the name McLaughlin or one of its many variants whose recorded ancestry is entirely within the Irish branch of the MacLochlainns would be fully eligible for membership if they subscribe to the objectives of our Society.