You can join any clan you like, as in times gone by highlanders would ally themselves to a clan for protection , find an association and join, just because your ancesters were not members doesnt mean you cant join, one of the best is my own clan -clan Cameron, there are braches everywhere and we still have a clan chief and museum, the vast majority of people called Cameron are not blood reatives, people would often change their names to the clan name for protection (dont mess with me im a Cameron!!) for me Tartans are more about clans than surnames- I keep seeing posts can I wear this Tartan Im not called McDonald/Cameron/Sinclair/or whatever so what. its nice to have a connection but for me I see Tartan bout a connection with a clan- Not all scots were part of a clan and the vast majority of Tartans are modern designs purely with a view to selling people "their" tartan,the number of Tartans avialiable never ceases to amaze me G8?? Singh? Heather?/spirit?/ heritage of? scotland/ whatever next its purely a marketing exercise. and I think thats missed by many people.