The accompanying text in 'The Clans of the Scottish Highlands' by James Logan begins as follows: "CLANN LABHRAINN - THE MAC LAURINS The MacLaurins afford an instance of a clan of very ancient descent, having become of inconsiderable importance, compared to others of more fortunate tribes. There is a traditional origin given of the Mac Laurins, with reference to a mermaid, which is among the most puerile of the many similar legends; but it was sufficient to induce the heralds to assign armorial bearings, allusive to the fancied occurence, when the eminent Lord Dreghorn, who claimed the chiefship, applied, in 1781, for matriculation of these family honours in the Lyon College of Arms."
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