Family Name and Clan

[Don Patrick]

I guess I should lay my cards on the table. Last year, I suggested that because Lady Gray was Queen of England for nine days and since my my grandmother's maiden name was Gray, that might mean, I could legitimately wear the Stewart Tartan. I was shot down very quickly. Apparently her right to be deemed Queen of England was not accepted by all.

Since then through research, I've discovered that the Gaelic form of Gray is MacGashan. MacGashan is a Sept of the Clan Stewart - Stewarts of Atholl. These Stewarts are a branch of the Royal Stewarts.

Any comments?

[Highland Logan]

I guess I should lay my cards on the table. last year, I suggested that because Lady Gray was Queen of Englan for nine days and since my my grandmother's maiden name was Gray, that might mean, I could legitimately wear the Stewart Tartan. I was shot down very quickly. Apparently her right to be deemed Queen of England was not accepted by all.

Since then through research, I've discovered that the Gaelic form of Gray is MacGashan. MacGashan is a Sept of the Clan Stewart - Stewarts of Atholl. These Stearts are a brach of the Royal Stewarts.

Any comments?

Now just because Gray as name would be MacGashan in Gaelic, may not mean that your Gray's come from those Gray's. Gray is also an English name, and people did move around. I don't think that should make much of a difference if you want to wear the Stuart tartan, but if you feel you need the family conection, you should check the geneolgy of your grandmother's name, rather than think a Gray is a Gray.

Frank

[Don Patrick]

Now just because Gray as name would be MacGashan in Gaelic, may not mean that your Gray's come from those Gray's. Gray is also an English name, and people did move around. I don't think that should make much of a difference if you want to wear the Stuart tartan, but if you feel you need the family conection, you should check the geneolgy of your grandmother's name, rather than think a Gray is a Gray.

Frank

Hence my earlier question? Is possession of the family name enough or is it not?

[davedove]

Hence my earlier question? Is possession of the family name enough or is it not?

It all depends on how you want to look at it. Most people won't care at all.

And just because you have the name doesn't mean you were part of the clan. For instance, MacDonald means "Son of Donald", and Donald was probably a pretty common name.

Now, let's assume there is a Donald who is part of clan Campbell. He has a son named Ian. That son would be known as Ian MacDonald of Clan Campbell. He has a son named Angus, who would be known as Angus MacIan of Clan Campbell.

It's not until much later that last names became hereditary.

Matt Newsome wrote a real good article about this but I can't seem to find it right now.

[Macman]

Hence my earlier question? Is possession of the family name enough or is it not?

Another aspect of all this is what you mean by "possession". Does it mean that you "possess" a name if you can find it somewhere in your family tree? Or does it mean that it's your own name? Maybe the word "connection" is a better word in the context of an ancestor's name.
As Highland Logan said, this can be a can of worms. We'll all have different opinions on what we consider "proper" to wear.

[Streetcar]

My understanding is that the sept (indicated by name) would wear the tartan of the clan to which they had allegiance - based usually by in whose lands they lived.

(Of course there is the inevitable digression about "official" clan/tartan affiliation before The Clearances and King George's visit.)

I guess I should lay my cards on the table. Last year, I suggested that because Lady Gray was Queen of England for nine days and since my my grandmother's maiden name was Gray, that might mean, I could legitimately wear the Stewart Tartan. I was shot down very quickly. Apparently her right to be deemed Queen of England was not accepted by all.

Since then through research, I've discovered that the Gaelic form of Gray is MacGashan. MacGashan is a Sept of the Clan Stewart - Stewarts of Atholl. These Stewarts are a branch of the Royal Stewarts.

Any comments?

With respect, it seems as if you may have all ready answered your own question.
It seems like you have been able to develop a reasonable justification to wear that particular tartan.

But if I may play devil's advocate for a moment, is your desire to wear this tartan to pay respect to the MacGashan branch, or is it that you have found a tartan you would like to wear, and have developed a justification for doing so?

Neither choice is wrong, of course and I mean no disrespect by asking.

[Cawdorian]

Sorry to learn of your accident, I am happy to hear that you are recuperating and all is well with you.

Like Don, I am a descendant of the Patrick's, I know for sure that we are of Clan Lamont and are most assuredly entitled to wear the Lamont tartan. My personal preference is to wear tartans of Clans of which I have a blood tie. My two kilts are both representive clans of my ancestry. My Campbell of Cawdor kilt does double duty as it represents another of my ancestral clans and the District of Argyll.

I believe if anyone digs deeply enough into their ancestry and family history they will find a connection to several tartans.

[Ancienne Alliance]

My understanding is that the sept (indicated by name) would wear the tartan of the clan to which they had allegiance - based usually by in whose lands they lived.

(Of course there is the inevitable digression about "official" clan/tartan affiliation before The Clearances and King George's visit.)



With respect, it seems as if you may have all ready answered your own question.
It seems like you have been able to develop a reasonable justification to wear that particular tartan.

But if I may play devil's advocate for a moment, is your desire to wear this tartan to pay respect to the MacGashan branch, or is it that you have found a tartan you would like to wear, and have developed a justification for doing so?

Neither choice is wrong, of course and I mean no disrespect by asking.

Yes I've been asking myself the same question !