Hello from California

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, Mac, and welcome to X Marks from the bottom end of Africa.
The MacDonalds are not so much many clans as a very large clan (once powerful) with several chiefs and many chieftains. I would definitely recommend a bit of family tree research.
But, as others have said, pick a tartan you like for now. You can always get more later on.
Regards,
Mike

[frank_a]

Greetings Mac, and welcome from the Capital District of NYS!

For Campbells, we have one authority - the chief of the clan, the current MacCailein Mor (the 13th (Scotland) and 6th (UK) Duke of Argyll) who lays out what tartans are accepted for the clan and what is not as well: http://www.ccsna.org/jsep50a.htm I wonder if there isn't such an authority for MacDonalds?

Best of luck to you sir.

Frank

[mcd0n@1d]

Thanks again all. I think my original question has been lost in translation. The McDonald Modern Tartan pictured a few post back by myself, does it belong to the McDonalds of Sleat, McDonalds of Clanranald, etc? I see that these sections of Clan Donald had their own specific crest. Just trying to find which belongs to the specific tartan if that makes sense?

[Mike_Oettle]

Mac, I had better leave explanations about MacDonald tartans to a MacDonald.
But regarding the badge worn with each one: the crest forms an integral part of the coat of arms of the chief or chieftain. It is his (her) property alone. But when worn in the form of a metal badge enclosed in a strap and buckle, it becomes the mark of a clansman.
That is to say, the person wearing the badge acknowledges the owner of the crest as his chief/chieftain.
As a MacDonald, you might fall under any of the various sub-chiefs of the clan, and only your ancestry will tell which one in particular.
Over to you, MacDonalds, MacDonnells et al . . .
Regards,
Mike

[1oldsarge]

Hello from the South end of the State! Welcome!