Scottish equivalent of "Smith"

**timseh** · 28th February 09, 10:22 PM

I've been doing some research recently and I seem to have hit a wall.
Short version: I'd like to discover what clan I'm "connected to" so I can obtain a Kilt in the proper Tartan. I'm wearing the "USMC Leatherneck" for my wedding as it is, after all, my adopted Clan, being a Marine and all... but my last name is Harbison. From what I can tell, the name could be connected to probably 10 or 20 different clans! ***! It seems we just bred like lemmings and spread all over the globe!

At this point, I'd just about welcome any reasonable attachment to just about any clan for which I can obtain a reasonably priced kilt and call it a day. Aside from the Leatherneck and a family Tartan, I'm leaning toward sticking to modern (e.g. utilikilt) Kilts. I don't want to build a collection of generic Tartans, just because it feels wrong to me to wear something I have no connection to. Ya dig?

Forgive me. I've been having a long talk with my friend Captain Morgan tonight...

Anyone have anything at all that links the Harbison name to a specific Clan?

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this. I'm still somewhat new at it.

From what I can tell, I'm related to roughly 30% of Scotland and I'm ready to just throw my hands in the air.

**Phogfan86** · 28th February 09, 10:40 PM

I can't find "Harbison" anywhere in my frequently-used sites for this kind of stuff.

But my surname, while it is a sept of Gunn, Mackey and Macduff, is English. I have to go back a few generations -- okay, a bunch -- before I find surnames and locations that connect me to a clan.

I was able to find that Harbison is probably an English name, but Harbison and the names Herbertson, Herbeson and Harbertson were recorded in Argyle in the 11th and 12th century. They were also documented in the Irish province of Ulster from the early 16th century.

You may need to do some digging, lad. Maybe try and link Harbisons/Herbertsons/Herbesons/Harbertsons to clans that could be found in Argyle. The Captain will guide you well.

**Cynthia** · 28th February 09, 10:41 PM

Sorry I can't help... I just know the frustration with searching. Moore has been a hard one for me to research: it's on both my parents' sides!! On top of it all, I finally found more info on my last name (Griffith), and one of them (relative of my ancestor) married a Moore! Augh! I can't seem to get away from that name even when I'm trying to avoid it for a break (not sure that one is related to any of my Moores, but who knows).

Good luck with your search!

**Twa_Corbies** · 16th March 09, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Cynthia

Sorry I can't help... I just know the frustration with searching. Moore has been a hard one for me to research: it's on both my parents' sides!! On top of it all, I finally found more info on my last name (Griffith), and one of them (relative of my ancestor) married a Moore! Augh! I can't seem to get away from that name even when I'm trying to avoid it for a break (not sure that one is related to any of my Moores, but who knows).

Good luck with your search!

There is a Moore/Moor/Muir tartan, and (if I'm not mistaken) a Welsh tartan for the name Griffith/Griffin

**Riverkilt** · 28th February 09, 10:42 PM

There's a Harbison Canyon just East of San Diego with a Harbison Canyon Road....so maybe a California tartan....?

Ron

**gilmore** · 28th February 09, 11:56 PM

There are only two ways to discover with certainty which clan your Harbison ancestors may have been associated with. One is the slow, laborious but exacting method of going backward in time, one generation at a time, carefully documenting one generation before moving on to his parents.

The other method is Y chromosome DNA testing, which may or may not yield results. It is likely, however, to tell you who you are NOT related to, and that can be helpful. Take a look at the FAQ at www.familytreedna.com

**Highlander31** · 1st March 09, 01:09 AM

You may have already tried this, but I thought I would mention it just in case you hadn't. My wife and I were able to use the stories passed down through the family to confirm and fill in holes in the information we found on ancestors.com. That gave us contacts in Scotland to continue the search.

As for tartans, how about the XMTS tartan? After all, we are a clan.

**pastorsteve** · 4th March 09, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by gilmore

There are only two ways to discover with certainty which clan your Harbison ancestors may have been associated with. One is the slow, laborious but exacting method of going backward in time, one generation at a time, carefully documenting one generation before moving on to his parents.

The other method is Y chromosome DNA testing, which may or may not yield results. It is likely, however, to tell you who you are NOT related to, and that can be helpful. Take a look at the FAQ at www.familytreedna.com

This is true. It's not the name - it's your ancestry. Just because a sir-name is X doesn't mean that has a specific family history. Names and spellings are changed on immigration and even during census taking over the years. DNA is quickest if you can possibly make a connection but there's nothing like years of family research. We have done it for years and still have trouble making some connections. Women marry and their names change. They can become a different surname each marrying generation (sometimes multiple surnames per woman per generation) having no blood relationship with any of the surnames.

You even find during ancestral research that family members who thought their father was someone - were mistaken. This can be done through birth/death records, census records, military records, etc. It's one step/generation at a time.

**The Wizard of BC** · 4th March 09, 10:03 AM

And please remember and abide by the rules when it comes to choosing your Tartan.

Just in case you have forgotten the rules here they are.

1) Pick a Tartan you like.
2) Know which Tartan you Pick.
3) Wear it with Pride.

**gilmore** · 4th March 09, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

And please remember and abide by the rules when it comes to choosing your Tartan.

Just in case you have forgotten the rules here they are.

1) Pick a Tartan you like.
2) Know which Tartan you Pick.
3) Wear it with Pride.

I don't agree with 1) at all.

For me aesthetics plays little to no part in the selection of a tartan. It's what it represents, what it is a sign of, that gives it relevance. Otherwise it's just a bunch of groovy colors that one will likely tire of seeing eventually.