Need advice: run in with Kilt (feather?) Police

[Colin]

Almost two years ago here at X-marks I gave a solution that is more historically
correct. Here's the thread:

Plant Badge: heraldry for common Scots

And let's also not forget that Xmarks has an "official" plant badge as selected by the members here. I don't wear a hat that often and personally if I did I am of the mind that feathers were for chieftains or for those with the claim to wear them. I will stick to the plant badge of my clan or the Xmarks plant badge should I feel the need to dress up my cap.

[Ronusan]

Wow, thanks everybody! You've all been very helpful and I really appreciate all the feedback. It definitely helps me a lot more to know this kind of context. I like the plant badge idea but Cochrane wasn't on that list! I'll just cross my fingers that ours is the Palm Tree so I'll have an excuse to carry around some extra shade at the next festival.

[sirdaniel1975]

Wow, thanks everybody! You've all been very helpful and I really appreciate all the feedback. It definitely helps me a lot more to know this kind of context. I like the plant badge idea but Cochrane wasn't on that list! I'll just cross my fingers that ours is the Palm Tree so I'll have an excuse to carry around some extra shade at the next festival.

If you've done your genealogy, you might be able to choose one. I know that Chocran(e) is a common sept name in Clan Donald. That doesn't mean you're a member.. you have to do your research. Cochran's of clan Donald I believe are from Kintyre. Clan Donald's (MacDonald's) plant badge is Heather.

The name Cochran(e) is found throughout the lowlands as well, according to
G. F. Black. In his book "The Surnames of Scotland" the areas mentioned are:
Paisley, Renfrewshire, Kintyre, Lanark, Edinburgh, Linlithgow.

The older spelling of the name is MacEachern/MacKuachern.

[george7]

I'm sure you could've jeered the Aussie the same jab. He probably had the wrong type of shoes or something.

[Deil the Yin]

Please, let's not Brit-bash here. These customs being discussed deal with Scottish heraldic customs which were in place long before the Union of the Crowns and the creation of the United Kingdom.

T.

Sir Lancelot: Sorrryyyy, sorryyyyy... I get a bit carried away sometimes... sorryyyy.

[highlander_Daz]

I wouldnt wear a feather of any description, I quite like a little Hackle or a plume but sometimes less is more !!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

In the ultimate sense, I suppose, feathers should be considered heraldic additiments, in the same way that coronets of rank are viewed. In the Scottish system three feathers are considered the prerogative of a Chief of the Name (ie: the head of a distinct clan, someone entitled to the double patronymic [James McBain of McBain] or the use of the phrase "of that Ilk"). Two feathers are used to designate those individuals who historically had large followings but were not the paramount chief of their clan (ie: "chieftains" or barons who are entitled to append a territorial designation to their family name). The single feather is the heraldic additiment of a Scottish armiger, who may or may not possess a territorial designation (ie: a town dweller would be Ian McBain, Esq, while his kinsman in the country might be Dougal McBain of Terpersie, Terpersie being the name of his small holding in the country. Interestingly, if Dougal sold Terpersie and moved in to town he'd still be McBain of Terpersie [unless he sold the "estate" to another McBain] as "Terpersie" is now part of his name).

Strictly speaking, if one does not possess a coat of arms, one should not wear feathers. In the real world, I doubt anyone entitled to feathers would take offense at the sight of someone wearing hackles (those small fathers worn by bandsmen), as long as they could not be mistaken by the average person as indicating that the wearer had an heraldic entitlement to feathers as an armiger.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Yes, this thread had me wondering if any clan chiefs who came here wearing their eagle feathers could be arrested and deported for violating those laws.

As far as I know, the Feds haven't pounced on anyone at a Scottish event who was wearing eagle feathers. If they did, it would be interesting to see how the courts would react to a law that specifically prohibits one group of people from exercising their cultural identity, while allowing another group to exercise theirs, based solely on race. Perhaps an American lawyer would care to give us his curbstone opinion?

[Roan Carter]

It was good of you to handle the man so politely. When I was little my sister and I used to sing the Yankee Doodle song in the car but we replaced "hat" with "butt."

I would have told him to do what Yankee Doodle did in that version.

lol tiptoeing in a family friendly forum. >_<

[Coemgen]

As they say, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.