MACILHERAN, Macilherran: This was once a common name, particularly in Bute, but is now extinct. Of the Mcllherans or Mac-gill-chiarans of Bute the Rev. Dr. Hew-ison says:"Last century that ancient family lived in every farm and cot in the district of the Neils, and had their own burial-ground at Clachieran (Claodh Chiarain), near Glechnabas. Now they prefer the common name of Sherp" (I, p. 139). (This was probably due to the faint resemblance of -herein or -herran to gearon, diminutive of gear, 'sharp'). The full form of the name is Mac Gille Chiarain, 'son of the servant of (S.) Ciaran.' There were several saints named Ciaran, the most famous of whom were Cierin of Clonmacnois and Cierin of Saighir (Seir-Kieran, Kings co., Ireland). The name means 'little black. The names of the brothers of the first were Donnan ('little brown'), Odran ('little grey'), and Cronan ('little tawny'). These names indicate that his family were derk complexioned, and therefore probably of pre-Celtic descent. The saint having left Ireland to labor in Cornwall, his name reappears there with the regular Brythonic change of Q(C) to P, in the form Pieran or Pirran. John Makilkeranne held half of the land of Scalpsy in Rute in 1506 (RMS., II, 2987), in 1563 John Makgilcharane granted the south half of Scalpsay to fames Stewart, son of William Stewart of Ambrismor (OPS., II, p. 235), and Donald Racach ('cripple, lame') Mc ikkerane in Glenscoradill, Arran, was charged with fire-raising in 1576 (RPC., II, p. 552). In 1633 John M'llcherane was retoured heir of John M'llcherane of Ardscapsie, his father, in the lands of Ardscapsie, (Retours, Bute, 45), and Robert Mcllcheran was portioner of the same lands in 1676 (Inquis., 103). Donald M'Gilcherrane in Cowgach is in record in 1662 (Isles). Macllcheran 1696, Macllcherrane 1696, M'Ilherran 1689, McKerran 1521. See also Mackehron. S. Ciaran is the patron saint of Campbeltown.