Please note that I specifically mentioned the Highland Clan system and did not mention the border regions due to the OP stating that his ancestors were from Perth.

And from your same document.


  • clans were a Highland and Borders phenomenon, not applicable to the Families of the Lowlands, where the majority of the Scottish population lived then and lives now;
  • clans were not just, and not even, a kinship group;
  • the “clan system” was one, but not the only, consequence of importing the Anglo-Norman feudal system to Scotland;
  • most Scots were never part of the “clan system” (however defined);
  • the term “Clan” ceased to have any real meaning post-1746, and assumed a different meaning post-1820;
  • clans have no formal place in Scots law, although chiefs do, to some extent;
  • tartans, although in some cases ancient, did not have the one-to-one relationship to surnames as is now affirmed, until the early 19th Century.

That pretty well says exactly what I posted. In fact your document is one of the sources from my research into Scottish history.