Clan advice and maybe tartan

[ALyon]

I have gone nuts with family history. I found out that the male side of my family kept a Bible and the births and names go back quite a bit but not enough and sadly I don't know who these people are, just a lot of Lyon's like me. I would like to join a clan, and get a nice kilt, but there is an issue.

First, my family tells me we are from clan Murray, I have no physical proof at this time. Name registers put me as a Farquharson. The Murray web site says provide proof, the Farquharson site says come on, your name matches. I know from reading history that marriages and war often changed things for people but what do I do? Go with word of mouth, or what I can read.

Second, are any of you part of more than one clan? My grandmother was a Ross so at least that one was easy.

P.S. This has got to be the greatest website ever. I'm so used to rude and mean people on the internet. Its refreshing to find a place where people are civil and inviting, not to mention encouraging. Thank you all for being so amazing!!

[Richrail]

From Reno, NV.

[Matty Ross]

A friend of mine who's last is also Lyons told me It was changed from Love to Lyon
2nd I'm a Ross You are welcome to join us.

[xman]

Clan affiliation is a traditional issue, so I say go with tradition. Unless, of course you have reason to doubt what your forebears say about you or want to change clans, then do as ye will.

[frank_a]

Well Mr. A. Lyon, welcome to XMarks from the Capital district of NYS!

For years my focus for clan affiliation has been Clan Campbell, as my dad's mother was a Campbell. We belong to Clan Campbell Society NA, and they say we can!

My grandmother's mother was a Vallance, and as such probably a member of Clan Wallace. Clan Wallace is very accepting of about anybody, and I also plan to join their society. Ya gotta love their perspective on the issue: "The Clan Wallace Society - Worldwide (CWS) represents all Scots of any Clan and all others who wish they were Scots." Can't go wrong there, and boy o boy, if ya like red tartans, have fun! They have a great web site: http://www.clanwallace.org/index-2.html

Best of luck to ya!

Frank

[Chas]

Hi ALyon,

You are a Lyon of Clan Lyon. Why search for anything else, when you already have a clan?

Your Clan chief is: Rt Hon Michael Fergus Bowes-Lyon, DL, 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne
The 14th Earl's youngest daughter was the Queen Mother.

He lives at Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland.

This gives more information -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Lyon

And this is the Canadian website of the clan -

http://www.clanlyon.org/

Hope this helps.

Regards

Chas

[Chas]

Further information:

This is the Clan tartan:

STA ref: 5517
STWR ref: none
Designer: Not Specified
Tartan date: 01/01/2002
Registration date: This tartan was recorded prior to the launch of The Scottish Register of Tartans.
Category: Clan/Family
Restrictions:
Registration notes: Same as Black Watch but with black stripe on green changed to blue with white guards. As such it is similar to Polaris which has black and yellow guards. Date not specified. 'Tartans (Johnston/Smith 1999) calls it Lyons.



Do not get confused with Glen Lyon or Glenlyon - they have nothing to do with Clan Lyon. Neither does any tartan called Lord Lyon.

Regards

Chas

[Jock Scot]

Well there you go, what more can one ask for?

Well done Chas, I was chasing the name around in my head trying to attach it to an elusive(in my mind) Clan Chief and your connection had just not occurred to me.

[Phil]

Don't get too wrapped up with clan affiliations. A surname is only a starting point and you need to know the area of Scotland where your ancestors originated. Being in a clan was not like joining the golf club or the Masonic Lodge - the was no joining fee or initiation rite. If you lived in the lands under the control of a chief of a particular clan then you would have been assumed to be a member of that clan, irrespective of what name you had.
The advantages of this for you would have been a degree of protection from the depredations of neighbouring clans but the downside would be the requirement to fight on the chief's behalf when required.
This whole clan thing is a bit of a minority interest here in Scotland and seems to have captured the imagination much more in your country where even new clans have been invented for lowland Borders families where none existed in the past. Bell of the borders is one such case in point.
Best to look upon it as joining a social club and choose the clan affiliation that has the most suitable activities etc. for you. Apart from that, clans really have little relevance nowadays.

[Jock Scot]

Bang on the button Phil.