The MacKean family originated in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, Scotland, now a suburb to the west and south of Glasgow and on the River Clyde. The name is spelled variously McKean or MacKean, however in later years there was a preference for MacKean especially the family that moved to England.

John McKean

John McKean apparently came from Dunbartonshire and it seems as if he is the first member of the family to have connections to Inchinnan.  His occupation was a wright, or carpenter, and as the area is on the Clyde River and home to all manner of shipbuilding industries it is possible that could be the reason for the move to the other side of the river.   Haven’t done any real searching on the Dumbarton side yet.

John MacKean (1805-1862) and Elizabeth Lang (1809-1887)

John MacKean was a carpenter, or at least that is what is listed on the census return for the year 1841. He was married to Eliza and they had two children, John and Archibald. The census return in the Ancestry database doesn’t have the image for this year, just the text description. The 1841 census did not give accurate years of birth so it is difficult to tell from the information given here. There was also a third child, James, born in 1836, but on the night of the census he is not with the family.

By 1851 the family has increased substantially, and there are now 6 children living at home. There are actually 7 children, however this time it is Alexander who is not at home on the night of the census.

By 1861 the family had moved to England and were living in Redcar, near Middlesborough.

Lang Family

John MacKean was married to Eliza Lang. She was the daughter of John Lang, (or Laing), of Inchinnan, who was a successful farmer on a farm called Garneylands. In the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland there is a full description of farming in the County of Renfrew which includes information about John Lang. He was a prize breeder of Clydesdale horses among other things.    This page from the Otago Witness, New Zealand, from 16 October, 1890, advertises the services of a Clydesdale horse named Pure Diamond, bred by Alexander Laing who would be a brother of Elizabeth Lang.

James MacKean (1839-1875)

James was the eldest son of John McKean and Eliza Lang.   In the 1851 census he is 24 and  living at home in Inchinnan with the family, and gives he occupation as “Timber Merchant Trade”.  By 1871 the family has moved to Middlesborough/Redcar in Yorkshire.   Neither James nor any of his brothers are on the 1871 census, although his mother and sister are there.