How is one’s Scottish “lineage,” “identity” or “affiliation” determined? I have been wondering about this for over six decades -- ever since I was told the family names of my grandparents -- who argued about it “on my behalf” until their deaths. My patralineal surname, “Sharkey” is Irish as descended from the old “O’Searcaighs” of county Tyrone, Ulster. My paternal grandmother was a Mac Intyre (and damned proud of it!); my mother was a Boyd and at least as equally proud! So, I was told I was “Irish” by the men of the family and “Scottish” by the women, and “Scots-Irish” by relatives who wished to make peace. Add to this the fact that I wrote my dissertation on David Hume (to whom I feel even more related philosophically speaking than to any of my family) and my sense of “Scottishness” becomes even more confused. So, to which, if any, Scottish heritage or tradition would I be considered most closely related? As a believer in the “Wear what you like because you like it” kilt philosophy, I adopted an “unidentified” tartan for my current formal kilt for no other reason than I liked the set and colors. However, were I to decide to purchase another tailor made kilt, I’d like to know if there is a tartan that would be more “historically” or “traditionally” suited to me than another. Thanks y'all.