Whats in a name vs. Blood?

[Mac-Attack]

OK a little background (pour yourself a port).
I am a McLean, but not by birth. My mother remarried when I was 3 to an American (McLean) but I was born Swedish (also German). My dad adopted me (hence the official McLean last name). But here is the next twist, My grandfather on my dads side, was adopted into the McLean as well, so far the story is sketchy (I actually started digging up this summer). But his parents are a McLean/Stewart. So, whats in a name as I am clearly not bloodline related? Have been interested in Scot history and family line kilt, but was too lazy/broke to pursue. Now I am looking into things (it is a distraction from my PhD studies) and even made my first kilt (modern XKilt) and have a 2nd in the works (again Xkilt in Green Duck cloth with Gold underpleats... USF colors) but not certain if I qualify to wear the McLean tartan now, as I will eventually make a dress kill in McLean, but not going to spend the money if I made a clan faux pas.

[J_Mimbs]

From all I've seen on here I think you would be fine to wear the McLean tartan, as you do have a strong connection to the name, even if its not by blood. But I'll let those older and wiser than myself speak to that.

On a totally unrelated note, are you in Tampa or did you/do you go to USF? Just curious; its close to where I live and I have friends who went there.

[Cygnus]

As far as I know, whether you belong to a clan depends almost entirely upon your surname (there are exceptions - people with differing surnames who offer fealty to the chief, those who owed fealty based on their geographic location, etc.) - if you were officially adopted by a McLean, and your grandfather was officially adopted into a McLean family, then you are a McLean!

[davidg]

Adoption always makes you a full member of the family. With that come rights and responsibilities so you are a MacLean whether you like it or not

Wear the tartan with pride

[Newfoundlander]

Hi lad,

Whilst there are no real "rules" about who can and can't wear a specific tartan, it seems clear to me that you feel (and rightfully so) connected to the MacLean clan, and are more than justified in wearing that tartan. By justified, I mean justified in your own mind and not in the eyes of others. Whether your blood relative was of that clan or if you are married into it, your still a part of that heritage if you feel a personal connection to it.

Take for example my Mother. She was a MacLeod, but she married into the Foster family. Is she not part of the Foster family and "justified" in wearing a Forrester tartan skirt or sash? Of course she is. However, she's not a strict blood member. But she was brought into that family and identifies with it on a personal level, and that's what really matters.

On a side note, your kilt and the one you have in the works sound pretty cool! If you can, post a picture to share =)

[Macman]

As far as I know, whether you belong to a clan depends almost entirely upon your surname (there are exceptions - people with differing surnames who offer fealty to the chief, those who owed fealty based on their geographic location, etc.) - if you were officially adopted by a McLean, and your grandfather was officially adopted into a McLean family, then you are a McLean!

This is my take on it as well. Your last name is McLean, so you are member of the Clan McLean. Wear the McLean tartan with pride!

[biblemonkey]

As far as I know, whether you belong to a clan depends almost entirely upon your surname (there are exceptions - people with differing surnames who offer fealty to the chief, those who owed fealty based on their geographic location, etc.) - if you were officially adopted by a McLean, and your grandfather was officially adopted into a McLean family, then you are a McLean!

Then because my father was adopted by a Ross and I am blood related to a Graham (my maternal grandmother) I could really claim either?

[Cygnus]

Then because my father was adopted by a Ross and I am blood related to a Graham (my maternal grandmother) I could really claim either?

From a historical perspective:

If your last name is Ross, the tradition would be for you to be a member of Clan Ross. If your surname is Graham, then you'd be a member of Clan Graham.

As I said, there are exceptions; if you were dissatisfied with your clan or expelled for some reason, you could offer your "fealty" to the Grahams (or any other clan, for that matter), though some of your Ross clansmen might not take very kindly to the idea of you switching allegiances like that!

[Mac-Attack]

Thanks all for the support and clarification. Yes I will upload a pic of my first kilt my current pic of it is pre-wash iron and a blurry mirror shot. Will get a better one tonight. As for my 2nd, I have been looking at lots of utility type kilts and am making sketch alterations to the std X-kilt (though that is a great piece of documentation as a base!). I will post my progress and pics as it fleshes out.

[piperdbh]

Yes, Monkey, or you could claim both.


OP:
MacLeans chose you to be part of their family, as they chose your grandfather. I'd say that makes you part of the clan.