Appropriate Tartan use,clanshipquestion.

[TheMcManus]

I am, as my name suggest a McManus, the Irish(3rd Gen American) kind not the Highland kind.
I became interest in Highland clans, kilts and such mainly from Highland Games as a power lifter I am a fan and plan to participate as soon I can. I was going to this summer but I tore a pec The point I'm getting to is that I own both a Colquhon and Gunn Kilt.
My research suggests that Gunn has strong Norse-Gale ties and it makes sense that my surname is associated with them. Some good history to solidify the connection. Also McManuses may have been back a forth quite bit.
Colquhon the best I can find is that McManus is sept , fought for and served the Colquhons, even standing up the MacGreggors at some point.
I really like the Colquhon tartan, the blue-green looks great, Gunn is great to.
I like Gunn's awesome history and motto , so much I joined the society since it was open to members of sept families.
My question is this appropriate? I am pretty much claiming Gunn Clan I suppose, with out any real Highland cultural background but a real Norse-Gael-Irish, blood connection.

[Tarheel]

If you are going to wear a tartan (I think you already have the experience when dealing with other people) the ability to explain the reason for the choice will come into play. Research will verify or justify your answers. Some points of history are murky and logical thinking takes over. The MacManus lands and the Colquhoun's were in close proximity. It would be natural for friendships (blood oaths even) to exist.

I can not speak with any authority for the Clan Colquhoun but would welcome you as an ally. With that alliance comes acceptance and levity. You'd be right in the Colquhoun tartan being a fine example of colors.

[Pegasys]

The tartan you choose " I think ' is more to be determined by your clan . You seem to understand the septs concept well enough , IMHO the final tartan choice would be made by whatever clan had the most a : historical claim to my sept , then b: anecdotal claim to the sept . There are several modern authorities that 'determine' what plaid is assigned to what surname , and one major older authority namely R. R. McIan who penned the famous The Clans of the Scottish Highlands -Costumes of - 1845 . This URL is a much prized link I found to an ultra high definition digital scan of this rare but classic book : https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/927302 . I offer this resource not to confuse but to show that for example , for my clan Fergusson the idealized romanticized depiction is the saffron Lein-croich , but it seems most Fergussons of a certain more classic 'vintage' age choose the weathered Fergusson tartan whereas those of the next generation like myself choose the Modern tartan . There are 2 other patterns also , Fergusson of Atholl and Fergusson of Balquhidder . So your surname of MacManus seems to be closer to Maguire than Gunn , but you would know better than I who your sept's house more properly is claimed by .

[TheMcManus]

The tartan you choose " I think ' is more to be determined by your clan . You seem to understand the septs concept well enough , IMHO the final tartan choice would be made by whatever clan had the most a : historical claim to my sept , then b: anecdotal claim to the sept . There are several modern authorities that 'determine' what plaid is assigned to what surname , and one major older authority namely R. R. McIan who penned the famous The Clans of the Scottish Highlands -Costumes of - 1845 . This URL is a much prized link I found to an ultra high definition digital scan of this rare but classic book : https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/927302 . I offer this resource not to confuse but to show that for example , for my clan Fergusson the idealized romanticized depiction is the saffron Lein-croich , but it seems most Fergussons of a certain more classic 'vintage' age choose the weathered Fergusson tartan whereas those of the next generation like myself choose the Modern tartan . There are 2 other patterns also , Fergusson of Atholl and Fergusson of Balquhidder . So your surname of MacManus seems to be closer to Maguire than Gunn , but you would know better than I who your sept's house more properly is claimed by .

In Ireland , County Roscommon , they were associated with ruling Maguire family. McManus would be more a less a Clan of it's own right and part of the Connachta tribes not sept of the Maguires. That Tribal structure is interesting but has no bearing on any highland connection unless some people from different families went of to do Viking types of things together and ended up in the Norse-Gael pipe line that seems to have contributed to the Gunn clann. I think.
As far as the Clann Gunn seems tot be concerned:
http://www.clangunn.us/septs.htm
MacMains
MacManus
Magnus
Magnusson
Main
Mains
Mann
Manson
Maness
Manus
Every variation of the Magnus/son of Magnus (MacManus) surname is listed as a sept.
As oposed to the Colquhon's who only claim the standard and one variant of the name :
MacManus lived among and serve the Colquhoun families
MacMains variation of McManus
Based on this I am thinking that MacManus Gunn Connection is a pretty substantial one.
The Gunn Clann society has a genealogical database so I'm guessing they may have some answers.