Family Name and Clan

[Morris at Heathfield]

If I'm correct and if my ancestry possesses the family name that matches a sept or a clan, I submit I'm empowered to wear the tartan of that clan. I understand this to be true from the Clan Chief's web site and believe I can safetly say that several if not many others on this site agree.

Is there some flaw in my assumption?

If the clan chief you are referring to has stated that all who bear the surname X, or are descended from someone who bore the surname X, are entitled to wear the clan tartan, then I would have to agree with your argument.

However, if your desire is to show your loyalty to the clan, then you may wish to receive clarification on that point. Different clans have different policies regarding sept names. Clan Donald, for instance, places a heavy emphasis on geography: If your surname is M(a)cCrory and your ancestors came from the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, or from County Antrim in Ireland, welcome to the clan! If your surname is M(a)cCrory and your ancestors came from County Derry, tough luck! (Fortunately, or unfortunately, my McCrory ancestors were from Antrim. )

If you really don't care what the recognized chief of the clan thinks, and just want to express respect for your ancestors who bore a particular surname, I think that's fine too. But, in that case, I'd suggest you do some genealogical research to find out who your ancestors actually were. According to some sources my surname is on the sept lists of the Buchanan and Gordon clans. However, from genealogical research, I think it is a reasonable assumption that none of my paternal ancestors ever set foot north of the Tyne. So, it would be a rather strange way of honoring them by wearing the Buchanan or Gordon tartans.

If you just like the tartan and wish to wear it for that reason, and if the first paragraph in my comment is not entirely true, then I'd suggest you decide if that's reason enough for you. I think "because I like the way it looks" is a stronger reason than a very tenuous link based on surname alone.