Septs and Clans

[Chaps]

As a self-described American mongrel I have been doing some work on my genealogy and it seems that my ancestors came to America from England, Ireland, Wales, and apparently from Scotland. The Scottish roots are from the Sanders who according to the websites I've seen are a Sept of Clan MacDonnell (of Glengarry) and emigrated to South Carolina in the 1700s. Is there any permission needed to wear the MacDonnell tartan? Also, the Sanders connection is 4 generations back, is that too far back to claim any affiliation? I know there are no such thing as "kilt cops", but I want to honor the traditions of my forefathers, and not behave in a manner that shows a lack of respect for them or for current members of the Clan MacDonnell.

[Mikilt]

If it would put your mind at ease, why not contact the Chief of Clan MacDonnell? Introduce yourself and tell him why you'd like to wear this particular tartan. Also, search out a clan society here in the US. Maybe they are represented at your nearest highland games. I am sure they'd be delighted that you want to wear their clan tartan.

[Steve Ashton]

As long as you remember that not all Scots were, or are, part of a Highland Clan.

The majority of the population of Scots lived and still live in the cities and the Lowlands. These people would not have felt a connection to the Highland Clans. And prior to the Romance period would not have had Tartans and would not have worn kilts.

It was only recently, or since the early 1800's, that it became popular to try to find a connection to a Highland Clan.

[Chaps]

Thanks, Mikilt and Steve. Though, Steve, I must say your definition of "recently" as starting in the early 1800s is an interesting perspective. Many in the USA think of "recently" in terms of years or at the most decades, as opposed to a couple centuries.

[Steve Ashton]

Well, that is true sir, but was it not you yourself who set the date of your family in America in the 1700's? And was it not yourself that is looking for a connection "4 generations back".

So perhaps my 'early 1800's' reference may be apropos. I'm just one guy and I've been known to be wrong before.

[Chaps]

You are right, I guess I did set the historical context in that way. Thanks again for the response.

[Steve Ashton]

Always happy to try and help put things in perspective. I guess it's just the history teacher in me.

[Nathan]

As a self-described American mongrel I have been doing some work on my genealogy and it seems that my ancestors came to America from England, Ireland, Wales, and apparently from Scotland. The Scottish roots are from the Sanders who according to the websites I've seen are a Sept of Clan MacDonnell (of Glengarry) and emigrated to South Carolina in the 1700s. Is there any permission needed to wear the MacDonnell tartan? Also, the Sanders connection is 4 generations back, is that too far back to claim any affiliation? I know there are no such thing as "kilt cops", but I want to honor the traditions of my forefathers, and not behave in a manner that shows a lack of respect for them or for current members of the Clan MacDonnell.

I'm the Commissioner of Clan Donald Southern Ontario. MacDonnell is one of our branches and the leadership of Clan Donald Canada are mostly Glengarry and are based in Glengarry, Ontario. I happen to be from the closely related branch of Clan Ranald.

Strictly speaking, for Clan affiliation, it goes by your actual family name. So if you are carrying the name Sanders, there would be no question that you would be a full member of the Clan. Clan membership is a paternal line birthright. There were times in history when someone could move into clan territory and officially join the Clan for its protection etc... but most people are a member of the clan associated with their surname.

The reason people can only have one clan is because, frequently, people had connections to multiple warring clans in their ancestry.

Imagine if one's father was Donald (MacDonald, MacDonell, MacConnell etc...) one's mother was a MacIntosh, one's paternal grandmother was a MacLean, one's maternal grandmother was a Campbell and so on... It was the prerogative of the Chief to form alliances with other clans, not the regular clansmen.

The clan system was kinship but it was also based on territory and military service to the chief. Divided loyalties were dangerous and therefore forbidden. Things aren't quite as life or death as they used to be.

That having been said, wearing a tartan and belonging to a clan aren't exactly the same thing. As a traditionalist, I prefer for Clan Donald tartans to be worn exclusively by Clan Donald members. Even though my name is MacDonald, I wouldn't even wear Glengarry, Ardnamurchan, Sleat etc...because I'm Clanranald. That's just how it was viewed in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where I grew up.

That said, there is no mechanism to enforce that worldview, no real evidence that clan tartans and the clan system existed at the same time and so lots of people disagree with me.

Glengarry is an unrestricted tartan and any mill will happily sell it to anyone with the money to buy it. Any kilt maker will sew you up a kilt in it if you pay their fee. So what I'm talking about is convention and tradition but does not come close to approaching the strictness around heraldry.

In the end, I don't see the point of writing a letter to Glengarry for permission to wear his tartan unless you included the request to wear his crest surrounded by belt and motto on your bonnet and officially join the clan. It would be respectful, but certainly not an essential step. In all honesty, if you bought a kilt in Glengarry tartan and, when asked, said you have a Sanders connection, most people would probably just leave it at that. This is even more true if that's your only Highland connection.

It's a lovely tartan.

Slainte,

Nathan

[Chaps]

Nathan,
Thanks for the great information. Maybe down the road I may consider buying a kilt with the Glengarry tartan, but not in the next several years. My next planned purchases are kilts with the U.S. Navy (Edsell) tartan and the ancient clergy tartan. My connections with both of those tartans is much more certain than any clan affiliation.

[ctbuchanan]

I wouldn't worry so much about going back the 4 generations which would most likely put you right around the year 1900 give or take 20 years or so. I saw a recent thread where someone was going back 13 generations to connect with a clan which would have put them in the 1500's most likely.

I think your connection and reasoning are just fine. Where it with pride.