 The heraldry borne by the clan suggests that they descend from a cadet branch of the dynasty of the Earls of Strathearn.Modern scholarly research by Ronnie and Máire Black, shows that the Abbot of Achtow in Balquhidder, never existed, turns out he is found in the Clan MacLaverty genealogy not a MacLaren genealogy.There is also a tradition that the MacLarens fought at the Battle of the Standard under Malise I, Earl of Strathearn, for David I of Scotland.