Blane

Aprominent name in Ayrshire. Black states that it may be of Celtic origin, being derived from Macgilleblaan whom he cites as a witness to a grant of land in Dumfries in the twelfth century. The name indicates a follower of St Blaan or Blane, believed to have been a Celtic saint and possibly a grandson of Aiden, King of Dalriada. As is the case in so many names derived from adherence to a Saint, the origin may relate to land dedicated to the church in his or her name. Patrick M’Blayne was a witness in Wigtownshire in 1484 and Thomas M’Blayne was clerk and notary in the diocese of Glasgow in 1618. The family became firmly established in Ayrshire when Gilbert, the fourth son of Blane of Blanefield, was created a baronet on 26 December 1812 for his services as a physician to William IV. His son and heir, Hugh Blane, served in the Scots Guards at Waterloo three years later. The family continued in military service throughout the nineteenth century in the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and then in the First World War where the last baronet, Sir Charles Blane, was killed in the naval Battle of Jutland, on 31 May 1916.

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