Clan MacKay Connection

[Steve Ashton]

We have discussed this topic many times before. But the misconception persists.

This idea of Clan affiliation is far less about what surname a person has, than it is the area where that person's people come from.
Even a quick look at a Clan map will bear this out. It is about regions and areas.

This idea that if you have Scottish heritage - that you will somehow automatically have a Clan affiliation simply does not
hold up.

The truth is, that the Clan system was only in the Highlands or the Northwest part of Scotland. The majority of the population of Scotland were not Highlanders and not part of a Highland Clan. But they were still 100% Scottish with a rich heritage their descendents can be proud of.

I am proud that even one of my great, geat great grand parents was from Scotland. The percentages are that he was probably not a Highlander. But I am still proud of where that part of me comes from.

The Lowland Scots of the late 1700's were the most literate people in the world at the time. No one can erase that from history. No one can erase that from my history.

I really don't have to find a Clan connection to make me anything more.

[PatrickHughes123]

We have discussed this topic many times before. But the misconception persists.

This idea of Clan affiliation is far less about what surname a person has, than it is the area where that person's people come from.
Even a quick look at a Clan map will bear this out. It is about regions and areas.

This idea that if you have Scottish heritage - that you will somehow automatically have a Clan affiliation simply does not
hold up.

The truth is, that the Clan system was only in the Highlands or the Northwest part of Scotland. The majority of the population of Scotland were not Highlanders and not part of a Highland Clan. But they were still 100% Scottish with a rich heritage their descendents can be proud of.

I am proud that even one of my great, geat great grand parents was from Scotland. The percentages are that he was probably not a Highlander. But I am still proud of where that part of me comes from.

The Lowland Scots of the late 1700's were the most literate people in the world at the time. No one can erase that from history. No one can erase that from my history.

I really don't have to find a Clan connection to make me anything more.

Yes, I have seen you say this before.

Although, this is a thing that isn't restricted to the Highlands. The Border Reivers followed the clan system, the Armstrong's, the Elliot's, the Scott's, the Kerr's and the Johnstone's, vicious warriors.

The Gaels in South-Western Scotland (Galloway, Dumfries, Annandale, etc) also followed the clan system as most people in these areas were apart of clans in the Highlands, and Galloway is home to the Clan MacLellan.

North-Eastern Scotland also follows this clan system with Clans such as MacDuff, in Fife and the MacDuff's even have a branch in Lothian as well as some Highland branches.

And believe it or not, the dynasties of Scotland such as the MacAlpine's and the Stewarts, actually historically speaking followed the same clan idea, with family heads.

Other historically prestigious Scottish families, such as the Douglas's, the Wallace's, the Murray's, the Bruce's actually followed the clan system, with chiefs/family heads.

I do understand some things were Victorian inventions, but the idea of Clans being a national thing in Scotland is not.