Which Clan?

[SlackerDrummer]

I am a Macpherson, therefore I wear the Macpherson tartan. My mother is a Smith (Gow), and there is indeed a Smith, or Gow tartan - very smart looking to boot - however, I am a staunch traditionalist, perhaps even a purist to some degree, and observe the traditions and ancestry of the male line in my family, my father's side obviously, which are the Macphersons. Rightfully, I could choose to wear the Smith (Gow) tartan if I fancied, but I don't.

Now, I certainly wear different variations of the Macpherson tartan to include the "hunting, weathered, ancient, modern, and dress" variants, but that is it. However, I will say that I do wear the Chattan tartan sometimes (as many other Macphersons I know do the same) - which is the overall confederation of many different Inverness-shire (Badenoch) clans to include the Macphersons. My point being, I choose not to wear any other clan or family tartan other than my own.

Thanks for the response, Kyle. I wasn't aware that it was as straightforward in your case as I was under the impression your real-world surname was Smith. The whole "which clan?" thing gets muddied even more with some of today's naming conventions.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for the response, Kyle. I wasn't aware that it was as straightforward in your case as I was under the impression your real-world surname was Smith. The whole "which clan?" thing gets muddied even more with some of today's naming conventions.

I think you are misunderstanding the word "convention" in this context, you are applying far too much rigid meaning to it.

[Jack Daw]

I suspect it's all down to personal preference-- and what may be available from the mill. In my own instance there are three Macmillan tartans-- Ancient, Dress, and Hunting. I prefer the hunting tartan, but own a kilt in the ancient. Why? Because I managed to buy 8 yards of heavy weight Ancient Macmillan tartan on e-bay for fifty quid. FIFTY QUID! Who wouldn't have a kilt made at that price?

Did this really happen? You're overdue in posting a pic, no?

[SlackerDrummer]

I think you are misunderstanding the word "convention" in this context, you are applying far too much rigid meaning to it.

I don't think so, but we should probably leave it at that.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Did this really happen? You're overdue in posting a pic, no?

Yes, it really happened about a year and a half ago. I sent the fabric to Barbara Tewksbury who made the kilt, which I am quite happy with, and which I reviewed here on XMTS. I'm actually wearing it in the photo of me greeting HRH Prince Edward at last year's Greenville Scottiish Games.

The search engine is you friend. Go to "Day Wear Jacket-- A Review of Plan B" to see what the kilt looks like

[tripleblessed]

Had a chat with our friend search engine and took a gander. Well done, MoR.
Good bargain + helpful friends + Grace + well-stocked closet= one very
distinguished look. Only in my dreams will I approach that.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Had a chat with our friend search engine and took a gander. Well done, MoR.
Good bargain + helpful friends + Grace + well-stocked closet= one very
distinguished look. Only in my dreams will I approach that.

Thank you for the kind words, but I should point out that my closet is "well-stocked" with clothes that no longer fit!

The working wardrobe comprises the bonnet, kilt, day wear jacket and waistcoat seen in the photo, plus a regulation doublet and waistcoat for evening wear. I've got hose in a variety of colours, as well as a pair of argyles to match the kilt; two regularly worn sporrans, one of which is seal skin for dress, and a pair of dress brogues with buckles. So basically I make due with one kilt, two jackets and a bunch of socks, just like everyone else on XMTS!

[creagdhubh]

Thanks for the response, Kyle. I wasn't aware that it was as straightforward in your case as I was under the impression your real-world surname was Smith. The whole "which clan?" thing gets muddied even more with some of today's naming conventions.

Kenneth,

What do you mean by "real-world" surname? My mother never took my father's surname of Macpherson when they married - it was her decision not to, the reasons why, I really do not know and have never asked (that has always been an issue between my mother and father, and does not concern me), so there have been times throughout my life where my surname was hyphenated, Smith-Macpherson, just Smith, and just Macpherson - all thanks to my parents (who have been divorced for many years now), which made things somewhat confusing at times, yet I was young, naive, and didn't really care! Since I am obviously an adult now, I chose my full legal name to read Kyle Andrew Smith Macpherson - no hyphen needed in my opinion, simply my first, middle, mother's surname, and father's surname in succession.

I also have a Baptismal name of Matthew, as I am indeed a Catholic, however, I choose to legally omit that particular name, as it just becomes too lengthly! In my case, the whole "which clan" debate is not an issue since I have always adhered to what tradition tells me, and that is simply following the male line...my father's line, in regards to my Scottish ancestry, clanship, and kinship. This doesn't necessarily mean that I completely discount my mother's ancestry - not at all! Her ancestors hail mainly from Perthshire and parts of Inverness-shire. On the contrary, I have always acknowledged my mother's side just as much as my father's, and I am quite confident that most people with any inherent interest in their heritage, ancestry, and "from whence they came", do as well. However with that being said, I am a staunch follower and observer of Highland tradition, thus taking on my father's mantle. There is no "muddiness" in my full name, nor in any of my distant and not-so-distant ancestor's full names in relation to our Clan Macpherson allegiance/membership. Did I address your curiosity Kenneth?

Beannach'd libh,

[creagdhubh]

I think you are misunderstanding the word "convention" in this context, you are applying far too much rigid meaning to it.

Precisely.

[SlackerDrummer]

Kenneth,

What do you mean by "real-world" surname? My mother never took my father's surname of Macpherson when they married - it was her decision not to, the reasons why, I really do not know and have never asked (that has always been an issue between my mother and father, and does not concern me), so there have been times throughout my life where my surname was hyphenated, Smith-Macpherson, just Smith, and just Macpherson - all thanks to my parents (who have been divorced for many years now), which made things somewhat confusing at times, yet I was young, naive, and didn't really care! Since I am obviously an adult now, I chose my full legal name to read Kyle Andrew Smith Macpherson - no hyphen needed in my opinion, simply my first, middle, mother's surname, and father's surname in succession.

I also have a Baptismal name of Matthew, as I am indeed a Catholic, however, I choose to legally omit that particular name, as it just becomes too lengthly! In my case, the whole "which clan" debate is not an issue since I have always adhered to what tradition tells me, and that is simply following the male line...my father's line, in regards to my Scottish ancestry, clanship, and kinship. This doesn't necessarily mean that I completely discount my mother's ancestry - not at all! Her ancestors hail mainly from Perthshire and parts of Inverness-shire. On the contrary, I have always acknowledged my mother's side just as much as my father's, and I am quite confident that most people with any inherent interest in their heritage, ancestry, and "from whence they came", do as well. However with that being said, I am a staunch follower and observer of Highland tradition, thus taking on my father's mantle. There is no "muddiness" in my full name, nor in any of my distant and not-so-distant ancestor's full names in relation to our Clan Macpherson allegiance/membership. Did I address your curiosity Kenneth?

Beannach'd libh,

Kyle,

There is no need to get your hackles up I assure you. Your signature line reads "Kyle Andrew Smith Macpherson" but on facebook and on the Clan Macpherson Association website you are listed as simply "Kyle Andrew Smith" and "Kyle Smith" respectively. Given that and the nature of this forum, I think it's pretty obvious to see how I might have made the assumption that you had only included "Macpherson" here to show your Clan affiliation. Once you mentioned (earlier in this thread) that your father was a Macpherson it became clear that that was why you have included it in your signature line here. But clearly other places you either go by or have gone by Smith, so it was not clear that it was your legal name. I don't care one way or the other if your parents share the same name or, if they don't, whose you took. My wife didn't take mine. But wives not taking their husbands' names, children with hyphenated surnames or the names of their mothers is all fairly recent. They are some of today's naming conventions. Do you have a better way of saying that? Any time you have a child with a hyphenated surname or who has his mother's surname, seeing connections to things that are typically patrilineal in descent becomes more difficult. That was all I was saying. I wasn't trying to make a big deal about anything and there was no slight at you intended and no harm meant to anyone else.

Regards,