Colbán, Earl of Buchan

Who is Colbán, Earl of Buchan?

Colbán of Buchan is the second Mormaer of Buchan to be known by name as Mormaer.

Colbán was not the son of his predecessor Gartnait. It is possible that Colbán came from another Buchan family, or even, as some have suggested, Fife. He perhaps obtained Buchan by marrying the daughter of Gartnait, whose name is recorded as Éva. He had a son named Magnus, and another called Merleswain, who became known as Merleswain of Kennoway. Colbán was in the Scottish army that invaded England with King William I of Scotland, 1174.