Clan Determination

[Casey_in_Carolina]

First off, let me state that I'm a Clarke. I've got my Clarke tartan kilt on order from USA Kilts, and jonesing harder every day

Clarks were never a clan unto themselves, but were Septs of various clans. From what I have been able to find out, the surname of Clark originally came into use for those who were clerks and scribes to the priests. Hence why the Clark tartan is almost identical to the Clergy tartan. I've seen some labeled with both names actually.

From what I understand, the various groups of Clarks in the different districts became septs of the clan in whose district they resided for consolidation, protection, etc... My family genealogy is a little murky a few generations back, so I can't make a definitive determination as to which clan our particular branch of the family was originally associated with. When I started doing some research on the matter, I keep finding different clans noted as "the" clan the sept was associated with. I'm not sure if it's just the opinions of the various authors, but they all seem to think that the Clarks were only ever a sept of a single clan, but they all have different opinions as to which clan.

So far I've seen them designated as a sept of Clan MacPherson, which makes a little sense to me as the original translation of MacPherson meant 'Son of the Parson', thereby tying into the link with the Church. However, I've also seen those stating, just as authoritatively, that the Clarks were only a sept of, Clan Cameron, Clan Cameron of Erracht, Clan Campbell, Clan Stewart, and Clan Robertson. Each one standing alone of course, and not sharing their Clarks with any other clan, if that makes any sense.

So I'm wondering, how do I find out what clan we should be associated with? I'll be perfectly happy to wear my Clark tartan, and what variations I might be able to find, but thought it would be nice to have a Clan tartan for occasional use, I just can't figure which would be appropriate.

If someone could point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Casey

[Charlie Mc.]

I feel your frustration. I am a McAndrew. We don't have a clan or tartan, but various sources associate McAndrews with: Ross, Mackintosh, Macgregor, MacDonnell of Glengarry, Anderson, and Chattan. These are just the ones I can think of off hand. I haven't yet managed to trace my McAndrew line back for enough to say for certain. There is some evidence that Mackintosh is most likely but it is hard to say for certain.

Your choices are pretty simple. You can not claim any clan association until you clarify your genealogy or you can choose the one that most appeals to you and join that clan. Regardless of your ancestors historical affiliation once you are accepted into a clan by the chief that becomes your clan.

[Monkey@Arms]

I don't think there is a solution for your problem except for tracing your ancestors. My situation is somewhat similar. My wife's family name is a trade name that is ascribed as a sept of at least two clans. The truth of the matter is that unless you know the actual geographic area you hail from, even if your last name matched that of a clan, it doesn't really mean your ancestors were from that clan. Since you don't actually have to fight other clans on behalf of the Chief, you can feel free to go with which ever clan you feel an affinity for.

Best regards,

Jake

[flairball]

Charlie mentions clan Chattan, which isn't an actual clan, but a confederation of various clans. There is a Chattan tartan. Follow your Clark trail a bit further to see if the mentioned clans are part of clan Chattan. Then, if you like the Chattan tartan, you've got a tartan that fits your criteria.

[Howard Clark]

Hey cousin, though there is no "e" on Clark, didn't you know ? (I am kidding, well at least it is meant in jest).

I went with the MacPherson, because my Father-in Law is a minister, so it works literally, sort of as well. I also have the illustrious professional name of "Smith" in the family tree, and have a couple of kilts in that tartan (Gow hunting), plus I 'am' a smith.

I have hesitated on getting a kilt in Clark tartan because of the clergy bit. I am an elder involved in presbytery, but I do not want people thinking I am ordained clergy, so in spite of the fact that the tartan is the same I have chosen not to wear it.

I may change my mind at some point, I don't know.

[gilmore]

If you want to determine with certainty which clan, if any, your ancestors were associated with, there is no substitute for the arduouous work of tracing your family back one generation at a time without skipping any or making leaps of faith or hope.

There are, however, a couple of resources that can give you clues where it may be profitable to look, and where it might be a waste of time.

One is Y chromosome DNA testing. For how this works, go to www.familytreeDNA.com and take a look at their FAQ. I notice that there is a Clark Surname Project here http://www.familytreedna.com/surname...&projecttype=S whose homepage is here: http://www.htmlsd.com/

If you decide to have your DNA tested, there is a discount if you go thorugh a surname project.

There is another way to look at UK genealogy painted with a broad brush and that is through demographics, using a surname profiler search engine maintained by the National Trust. Clark is listed here http://www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk...y=GB&type=name thos I don't know if you can go to it directly. You may have to go to http://www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk/default.aspx then click on Start a Surname Search, enter your name, and click the 1881 census to see where most people with your surname were living in that year. And prepare yourself for a dissappointment. Virtually all Clarkes are shown in England, well south of the Scottish Border, centered around Bristol. Clark without an e is shown as more evenly distributed between Scotland and England.

[macneighill]

However, I've also seen those stating, just as authoritatively, that the Clarks were only a sept of, Clan Cameron, Clan Cameron of Erracht, Clan Campbell, Clan Stewart, and Clan Robertson. Each one standing alone of course, and not sharing their Clarks with any other clan, if that makes any sense.

Not to mention Clans: MacKintosh, MacPherson and Chattan. And, probably a few more through Proscription.

So I'm wondering, how do I find out what clan we should be associated with? I'll be perfectly happy to wear my Clark tartan, and what variations I might be able to find, but thought it would be nice to have a Clan tartan for occasional use, I just can't figure which would be appropriate.

My Grandmother was a Clark. I'm still in the process of finding a link to a specific clan. As to finding an answer for your connections, you would have to trace your line back and find the link.

[Carolina Kiltman]

And just to make things more difficult, Clark (British) is the phonetic spelling of Clerk, which could mean at least a couple occupations, clergy being one of them. . . It ain't never easy or neat unless you are a member of a royal family, then it is all done for you!

[Casey_in_Carolina]

Hey cousin, though there is no "e" on Clark, didn't you know ? (I am kidding, well at least it is meant in jest).

.

And prepare yourself for a dissappointment. Virtually all Clarkes are shown in England, well south of the Scottish Border, centered around Bristol. Clark without an e is shown as more evenly distributed between Scotland and England.

Actually, the 'e' on the end of my name comes from my grandfather. He was the youngest of seven brothers growing up, and wanted to be different, so when he started going to elementary school, he added the 'e' to the end of our name. Funny how just two generations ago you could do that without anyone blinking an eye, and now, you have to deforest a small country for the paperwork involved in changing a name

Thanks for the tips and helpful links, I'll see what I can find as to further back in the family line, but it all gets murky when it hits Tennessee. I'll keep digging though...


Casey

[BEEDEE]

Just to make the waters a little more murky -

Tartans for Me! list the following for Clark(e) - Clark, Clark of Ulva, Clan Chattan, MacPherson, Mackintosh, and Cameron. The first is also known as the Clergy and is ITI633. The second is ITI168. You can look both up on the Scottish Tartans Authority website http://www.tartansauthority.com/web/...rchintroc2.asp