Which Clan?

[Jock Scot]

Generally speaking in Scotland, as you were asking, if your surname is for example, "MacOnion" then you wear that tartan. Other than that you wear ONE tartan that you or your ancestors have chosen and that is it. It would most certainly raise an eyebrow if you as a "MacOnion" were wearing a "MacCarrot" tartan without a very good reason, and there are a few of those. If you are a member of a Pipe Band is one, your regimental tartan is another.

As we are a relatively small and close knit community, particularly in the Highlands, any variation from the tartan you normally wear is noticed. I might add that moving from "ancient" colours to say "weathered" is also noticed,noted,but never commented on by anyone other than the closest of closest family. It would just be assumed that you had more money than sense.Just so you know, ostentation, giving a perception of wealth is best avoided in the Highlands and even wealthy Dukes, for example, are sensitive to this and the "bells and whistles" are kept for very special occasions.

As many of you have noticed, generally speaking we in Scotland do not have many kilts(each) and those we have are rarely of a different tartan.We really don't go in for all this deep and meaningful ancestry bit too justify which tartan we wear and no one will want and sit and listen to a two hour lecture on justifying your choice of tartan.We wear the tartan we do and that is readily accepted by all and we do not expect to change from it.Why should we? People do, incomers invariably, and I am afraid they get stuck with the poser label.

[Tim Little]

While Little is a legitimate Scottish clan in its own right, I've always identified my highland ancestry with the Mackenzies 1) because that is the closest connection genealogically-speaking [my paternal grandmother's maiden name was McKenzie; her father hailed from Scotland], and 2) because she was the one who instilled my interest in Scotland and my Scottish heritage when I was young. All very intuitive, I think.

As I've dug deeper into my genealogy I've of course found other Scottish connections, but mostly lowland families and Borderers. So, if I'm honoring my highland bloodline by wearing highland dress, then Mackenzie it is!

[Joshua]

Generally speaking in Scotland, as you were asking, if your surname is for example, "MacOnion" then you wear that tartan. Other than that you wear ONE tartan that you or your ancestors have chosen and that is it. It would most certainly raise an eyebrow if you as a "MacOnion" were wearing a "MacCarrot" tartan without a very good reason, and there are a few of those. If you are a member of a Pipe Band is one, your regimental tartan is another.

As we are a relatively small and close knit community, particularly in the Highlands, any variation from the tartan you normally wear is noticed. I might add that moving from "ancient" colours to say "weathered" is also noticed,noted,but never commented on by anyone other than the closest of closest family. It would just be assumed that you had more money than sense.Just so you know, ostentation, giving a perception of wealth is best avoided in the Highlands and even wealthy Dukes, for example, are sensitive to this and the "bells and whistles" are kept for very special occasions.

As many of you have noticed, generally speaking we in Scotland do not have many kilts(each) and those we have are rarely of a different tartan.We really don't go in for all this deep and meaningful ancestry bit too justify which tartan we wear and no one will want and sit and listen to a two hour lecture on justifying your choice of tartan.We wear the tartan we do and that is readily accepted by all and we do not expect to change from it.Why should we? People do, incomers invariably, and I am afraid they get stuck with the poser label.

Great post as always. Now you've given me some food for thought, as I have traced my paternal lineage to an Urquhart and several MacIntyres and McKayes - but my surname is Davis... (Granted, my father was adopted by his maternal uncle and was raised with the maiden name of his mother).

The tartan you see in my avatar is Davidson - although as of my most recent digging I've found my "old world" ancestor to be one David Ap Ieuen, a Welshie in the 1660's who had many children in his homeland, all of which anglicized their surnames to "Davis".

I've been torn. Do I raise my son to wear the Davidon tartan, knowing full well that the "Davis" line of my family is about as Scottish as Chopsticks? Or do I wear the Saint David's Tartan of Wales and enjoy the fact that I am 1) Acknowledging my genealogy, and 2) Still enjoying wearing the kilt?

[SlackerDrummer]

Jock Scott,

In rereading the thread, and your input particularly, I think I've figured out that this decision has already been made for me. When I got married, the men in the wedding party (including me) wore rental kilt outfits in Scottish National. My mother, however, wore a silk a-line skirt in the MacRae Hunting tartan (the mother of the Austin I mentioned earlier in this thread was a Rea). It would seem the precedent has been set.

[McElmurry]

Jock Scott,

In rereading the thread, and your input particularly, I think I've figured out that this decision has already been made for me. When I got married, the men in the wedding party (including me) wore rental kilt outfits in Scottish National. My mother, however, wore a silk a-line skirt in the MacRae Hunting tartan (the mother of the Austin I mentioned earlier in this thread was a Rea). It would seem the precedent has been set.

Dodged a bullet there. MacRae Hunting is a realy nice tartan.

At least it wasn't MacOnion.

[ThistleDown]

Great post as always. Now you've given me some food for thought, as I have traced my paternal lineage to an Urquhart and several MacIntyres and McKayes - but my surname is Davis... (Granted, my father was adopted by his maternal uncle and was raised with the maiden name of his mother).

The tartan you see in my avatar is Davidson - although as of my most recent digging I've found my "old world" ancestor to be one David Ap Ieuen, a Welshie in the 1660's who had many children in his homeland, all of which anglicized their surnames to "Davis".

I've been torn. Do I raise my son to wear the Davidon tartan, knowing full well that the "Davis" line of my family is about as Scottish as Chopsticks? Or do I wear the Saint David's Tartan of Wales and enjoy the fact that I am 1) Acknowledging my genealogy, and 2) Still enjoying wearing the kilt?

Yes, that kind of thing happens frequently, Joshua. I think it a shame that the name-reiver lists of the 19C are still touted as real after so many proofs against them. Be that as it may, you are descended from a Welshman with the superb surname "Davis". Be proud of it and know for certain that your Davis ancestors did not wear the Davidson tartan.

If you wish to continue to wear Highland dress, however, and to promote its wearing wih some familial attachment in your own family, you might want to contact Urquhart of Urquhart. Or you could wear the ne Welsh tartan.

Unlike Jock who is a Highland resident but doesn't bear a Highland surname, I wear Davidson because that is my name. The tartan Jock does wear has a different family connection for him than his surname, as will yours if you cheose Urquhart, but if he didn't have that connection he could look to the district in which he lives and wear the Lochaber with some degree of comfort.

In my case (again) I also wear the tartans of the Mackintosh and Clan Chattan because of my place of residency in Scotland (and family connections), and the Maple Leaf due to my Canadian residency.

It`s not as confusing as it all seems, in other words.

As for Clan Associations there are many in Scotland, all of them connected to clan chiefs and their families. I can`t think of a single example of a bunch of MacOnions going out and forming their own association without the active support of Hamish MacOnion of that Ilk. I guess the real reason for that is that we live our heritage on a daily basis, not just at the weekend.

Rex

[McElmurry]

As for Clan Associations there are many in Scotland, all of them connected to clan chiefs and their families. I can`t think of a single example of a bunch of MacOnions going out and forming their own association without the active support of Hamish MacOnion of that Ilk. I guess the real reason for that is that we live our heritage on a daily basis, not just at the weekend.

Rex

So none of the armigerous (cheifless) clans have associations in Scottland?

When you live in a swirling cultural mosaic of 300 million people it takes a little organization to find likeminded people who want to preserve a particular aspect of your heritage. Someone has to keep the mailing list and organize get togethers. And if there hasn't been a Hamish MacOnion for 300 years that certainly isn't going to stop the MacOnions of North American from getting together for a potluck.

[The Thirsty Viking]

So none of the armigerous (cheifless) clans have associations in Scottland?

Speaking of which - My wearing of the Stewart tartan comes from my grandfather. He actually has no idea who his real father was because, well lets just say that Great grandma was a bad girl. When he was 5 or 6, he was adopted by a man who marred g-grandma, with the surname of Freer who wore a Stewart tartan. Shortly after they moved to the States. Mr. Freer died when Grandpa was 12. Grandpa doesnt really know much about the man who raised him for that short bit of his life, But has worn the Stewart tartan since and passed it to his sons and grandsons.

I have worn that tartan exclusively my whole life. I am no geneologist, and quite frankly, there isnt much to go on, so I continue to wear that tartan. I have had people try to challenge me saying I "shouldnt" be wearing it, or that I could never join the Stewart Society because I cant trace it back and blah blah blah, but really, that doesnt matter to me. I take what little spare time I have to try and learn the history of the Stewarts, and I wear the tartan more in respect to my beloved Grandfather.

And should someone ever have cross words to say to me on the subject, I
got a Doc Marten Dental Plan with their name on it. :buttkick:

[ThistleDown]

So none of the armigerous (cheifless) clans have associations in Scottland?

When you live in a swirling cultural mosaic of 300 million people it takes a little organization to find likeminded people who want to preserve a particular aspect of your heritage. Someone has to keep the mailing list and organize get togethers. And if there hasn't been a Hamish MacOnion for 300 years that certainly isn't going to stop the MacOnions of North American from getting together for a potluck.

Yes, sorry, that was a terrible statement of generality, wasn't it? In fact there are several associations of folks with the same armigerous surname very, very actively seeking their absent chiefs. Off the top of my head I can think of the Highland family of Macgillivray and the Lowland one of Cunningham working diligently in this direction right now. What I was trying to say was that Clan Associations are formed around chiefly families in Scotland. They get together for potlucks and the like just as you do in America, but the structure is vastly different because of the presence of a chief.

Now back to the subject with apologies for the side-trip.

[Morris at Heathfield]

I have not yet chosen to affiliate with a clan, and I'm not sure that I ever will, but the whole subject is also relevant to choosing a tartan, which is something I've thought a lot about. As briefly (heh) as I can put it, here's my situation:

Closest surname with a tartan: Morris (paternal side)
Closest Scottish surname: Esplin (paternal side)
Closest Scottish surname with a tartan: Graham (maternal side)
Closest surname on Scottish soil (Dundee): Esplin (paternal side)
Closest surname with a tartan on Scottish soil (Wardend, near Airlie): Campbell (paternal side)
Closest surname in the Highlands (Braedownie): Ogilvy (paternal side)
Most common Scottish surnames: Crawford (paternal and maternal sides), Stewart (paternal and maternal sides)

Now, if I went the "Tartan for Me" route, I could claim the Buchanan or Gordon tartans, the Morris of Wales or, if it's not restricted, the Morris of Eddergoll. The problem is, I'm quite confident my Morris ancestors came from England, and from a part of England that is closer to France and Belgium than it is to Scotland, or even Wales. Wearing the Buchanan or Gordon tartans might make the most sense to someone who doesn't know my family history, but I don't think it makes any sense for me (although I do have some Gibsons and Buchanans back there).

There is, of course the purist (non-)option: I'm an American, and one of English lineage, so I have no business wearing the kilt (except, perhaps, as a member of my pipe band).

With the Esplin surname, the "Tartan for Me" route (inexplicably, as far as I'm concerned) recommends the Stirling tartan rather than the Angus. The surname is not associated with any clan and has no tartan of its own, although that could be remedied.... If there was an Esplin tartan, I would most likely choose to wear it.

Going by MacMillan of Rathdown's recommendation, I think the likely choice would be Campbell. I have sort of gravitated towards that clan, but have not chosen to join its society so far. I would like to know where my Campbell ancestors fit in. Did they spring from the Glenorchy/Breadalbane branch, as geography might suggest, or from another branch of the clan? Unfortunately I've hit a dead end at Brydestown (almost undoubtedly the modern Braideston), Forfarshire, in the mid-18th century.

Another thought: Many of my more recent Scottish ancestors (including the Esplins) lived in Ogilvy territory. If they had any sort of clan allegiance, it might have been to the Ogilvies. And, as I mentioned above, the closest ancestor I can actually place in the Scottish Highlands was an Ogilvy.

So, anyway, my provisional decision has been not to join any clan association and, as for tartans, I think my first wool tartan kilt (apart from my band's Inverness, modern colors) will be in the Angus tartan, muted colors. No divided clan loyalties to worry about. (But now are there district rivalries to worry about? ) The recently-designed Strathmore tartan would be another option, but I prefer the muted Angus.

Now, will this post help anyone else make a decision about what clan to join, or what tartan to wear? Who knows? *shrug*