Would YOU wear another "clan's" tartan?

[O'Callaghan]

I (would) only wear a tartan related to my name.

My experience is that this is the accepted norm in lowland Scotland, but the link may often be through a sept. Obviously things are different in the highlands, but down here it is expected that one wears a family or clan tartan, but no questions are asked and no-one cares too much in any case.

As an aside; is there an authoritative list of tartans which are known to have been associated with any clan, whilst that clan was actually in existance (pre 1745/6 perhaps)? I wonder how many clan tartans are a result of the (lowlander inspired) revival following 1822, and whether these should really be considered as clan society tartans or similar, given that what they purported to represent (a highland clan) may no longer have existed?

It is stated on the website of Lord Lyon that anyone bearing a surname of a recognised clan is automatically a member of that clan - but where does this reasoning come from? Was it not the case that a clan was infact a community living together, directly under their chief? To my mind there is a confusion that I can claim to be a clan member and thus be protective of "my tartan" whilst not living under any type of clan system.

This is all asked out of genuine interest, and in the hope of enlightening replies!

There are now some 200 recognised Scottish clans and most people estimate that only somewhere between a dozen and two dozen of these wore their tartans before 1745, at which time the main clan identifier was the plant badge worn in the hat.