The MacFarlane Lands are located in the West Highlands at the heads of Loch Long and Loch Lomond. For about five centuries the MacFarlane Chiefs presided over this area. Clan MacFarlane did not originate in the Highlands as you might think however. Like a number of other clans, they integrated into the great Scottish Highlands by a long residence among the mountains and the lochs, and by intermarriage with native families of Celtic decent. Many people wronfully try to derive the Clan's origins from the Celts, however it is noted that the earliest known ancestor of the family was the Saxon Arkil, son of Egfrith. Arkil, a Northumbrian chief who fled to Scotland to escape the devastations of William the Conqueror, recieved from Malcom Canmore the custody of the Lennox district, and became the first founder of the family bearing that title. Alwyn, son of Arkil, was created Earl of Lennox by the latter King. The son, another Alwyn, of the first Earl of Lennox being a minor at the time of his father's death, was too young to takeover the earldom, so William the Lion gave it to his brother David, Earl of Huntingdon, but the young Earl recovered possession around 1199 AD. When he died in 1224 AD, he left no fewer than eight sons. Of these, Malduin, the eldest, became third Earl of Lennox, and Gilchrist, the fourth son, obtained from Malduin in 1225 AD a charter for the lands of Arrochar, and became ancestor of the MacFarlanes! Along with Clan Donnachaidh, the MacFarlanes are said to have been the earliest of the clans to hold their lands by feudal charter.

In short, the Macfarlanes are descended from Alwyn, Celtic Earl of Lennox, whose younger son, Gilchrist, received lands at Arrochar on the shores of Loch Long at the end of the 12th century. Gilchrist's son, Malduin, befriended and aided Robert the Bruce during his fight for independence from the English. The Macfarlanes are reported to have fought at Bannockburn in 1314. The clan takes its name from Malduin's son Parlan.

The name, Parlan, has been linked to Partholon, " Spirit of the Sea Waves", in Irish myths and legend. More usually, it is considered the Gaelic equivalent of Bartholomew. Gaelic grammar requires changes within a word to indicate possession. A "P" is softened to a "Ph", and an "i" is added to the last syllable. In this way, " son of Parlan" becomes Mac (son) Pharlain (of Parlan).

The lands of Arrochar were first given (by charter) to Malduin MacGhilchrist in approx. 1286. Iain MacPharlain received a charter confirmation to Arrochar in 1420. Duncan, the last Celtic Earl of Lennox was executed by James I. Although the Macfarlanes had a valid claim to the earldom, the title was given by the crown to John Stewart, Lord Darnley. The Macfarlanes sought to oppose the Stewarts but they proved too powerful and Andrew Macfarlane the 10th chief, married a younger daughter of Lord Darnley, forging a new alliance. Thereafter the Macfarlanes followed the new Earls of Lennox in most of the major conflicts of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.