Historical and genealogical essay upon the family and surname of Buchanan

162 ACCOUNT OF THE
names of this kingdom, at some time or occasion,
assumed some one part or other of their patron or
superior's armorial bearing in conjunction with
their own. As, for instance, most surnames of
Tiviotdale and Douglasdale assume a part of the
Douglasses arms ; and those of Murrayland the
arms of the Murrays. So that few of an equal
character with that of Buchanan reserved their
arms so free of any addition or mixture as that
surname did ; which is no small argument, not
only of the honour of the family, but also of the
cause and reason of the first granting of these
arms.
This Anselan Okyan, agreeable to the most or-
dinary and received genealogy of that surname, is
reputed the progenitor of that surname, and first
laird of Buchanan. His son and successor was
called
John, in whose favours (as I have been in-
formed by gentlemen of very much integrity, who
asserted, they had seen the same in custody of
the late laird of Buchanan,) there was a charter,
granted by Alcuin, (as it would seem,) first earl
of Lennox, in the reign of king Malcolm III. of
the Wester Mains of Buchanan. But the late
laird of Buchanan, in the decline of his age and
judgment, having conveyed his estate to strangers,
by that means many of his ancient evidents, as not
conductive to the purpose then in hand, are lost,
and probably this charter among others. And,
therefore, not having seen the same, I cannot
positively determine thereanent ; but will only
place this John, agreeable to the traditional ac-