Balmorals and Glengarrys

[Brian K]

If I may chip in here Brian, you do most certainly have a clan connection! Alright it does not come from your father's ancestors, but it does come down your mother's line apparently.You are more connected to Scotland than many; wear your mother's tartan and badge. There is absolutely no question that you should not, if that is what you wish.

Thanks, Jock, I have always felt that way, but there are so many who seem to feel that clan affiliation is only valid with the correct surname that I have wondered about it a little. My mother's father was a McConnell (MacConnell) which apparently is/was a sept of Clan Donald, which, I suppose might mean it is OK for me to wear a MacDonald cap badge. There is a MacConnell tartan that was registered in the 80s and is a variation of the MacDonald hunting, if I recall correctly.

On the Anderson (her mother, of course) side, the family of the much admired great-grandfather I have mentioned here several times, it seems to be a bit murkier. There is an Anderson tartan (actually many of them) and clan badge, but there is no Anderson chief and I have seen things that have indicated that the Andersons were actually a very large family with various parts as septs of clans Ross or Donald, OR as many unrelated groups who happened to have the same surname. St. Andrew being the patron of Scotland I suppose it would be natural for there to be be many sons of Andrew.

Can anyone sort this out for me?

Sorry, Jeff, I didn't not mean to hijack this thread, but this is where it came up.

Regards,

Brian