Portal:Clans of Scotland

The Clans of Scotland Portal

A Scottish clan (from Gaelic clann, literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates Scottish heraldry and coats of arms. Most clans have their own tartan patterns, usually dating from the 19th century, which members may incorporate into kilts or other clothing.

The modern image of clans, each with their own tartan and specific land, was promulgated by the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott after influence by others. Historically, tartan designs were associated with Lowland and Highland districts whose weavers tended to produce cloth patterns favoured in those districts. By process of social evolution, it followed that the clans/families prominent in a particular district would wear the tartan of that district, and it was but a short step for that community to become identified by it.

Many clans have their own clan chief; those that do not are known as armigerous clans. Clans generally identify with geographical areas originally controlled by their founders, sometimes with an ancestral castle and clan gatherings, which form a regular part of the social scene. The most notable clan event of recent times was The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh, which attracted at least 47,000 participants from around the world.

Clan map

Selected clans -

Image 1

Clan MacAlister is a Scottish Clan. The clan is the earliest branch to have split off from Clan Donald, claiming descent from Alasdair Mòr, son of Domhnall founder of Clan Donald. From Alasdair Mòr the clans takes its surname MacAlister; this surname is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic MacAlasdair meaning "son of Alasdair". In the 15th century the chief of the clan was seated in Kintyre, and the clan was centred there until the 18th century, when a chief sold the family estate in preference to an estate in the Scottish Lowlands. (Full article...)
Image 2

Clan Wood is a Lowland Scottish clan from North Esk, Largo Bay and Angus in Scotland. (Full article...)
Image 3

Clan Maclean (/mækˈleɪn/ ; Scottish Gaelic: Clann 'IllEathain [kʰl̪ˠãn̪ˠ iˈʎɛhɛɲ]) is a Highlands Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early Macleans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in clan skirmishes with the Mackinnons, Camerons, MacDonalds and Campbells, as well as all of the Jacobite risings. (Full article...)
Image 4

Clan Ross (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Anndrais [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ ˈan̪ˠt̪ɾɪʃ]) is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross. (Full article...)
Image 5

Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald (sometime abbreviated to McDonald)' (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ ˈt̪õː.ɪʎ]), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476.

The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, recognises under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. There are also numerous branches to the Clan Donald, and several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, Clan MacDonald of Glencoe, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, and Clan MacAlister. ('Full article...)
Image 6

Clan Maclachlan, also known as Clan Lachlan, Clann Lachainn (Argyll), and Clann Lachlainn, is a Highland Scottish clan that historically centred on the lands of Strathlachlan (Srath Lachainn "Valley of Lachlan") on Loch Fyne, Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. The clan claims descent from Lachlan Mor, who lived on Loch Fyne in the 13th century, and who has left his name upon the countryside he once controlled: places such as Strathlachlan, Castle Lachlan and Lachlan Bay. Tradition gives Lachlan Mor a descent from an Irish prince of the O'Neill dynasty, Ánrothán Ua Néill, son of Áed, son of Flaithbertach Ua Néill, King of Ailech and Cenél nEógain, died 1036. Clan Maclachlan has been associated with other clans, such as Clan Lamont, Clan Ewen of Otter, Clan MacNeil of Barra, and the MacSweens: as all claim descent from Anrothan O'Neill who left Ireland for Kintyre in the 11th century. From this descent the clan claims a further descent from the legendary Niall Noigíallach, High King of Ireland, who lived from the mid 4th century to the early 5th century.

The clan took part in the Jacobite risings as loyal supporters of the Stuart kings of Scotland. The seventeenth chief of the clan was killed in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Following the Jacobite defeat, a Government warship is said to have damaged the clan seat of old Castle Lachlan. (Full article...)
Image 7

Clan Johnstone is a Border Reiver Scottish clan. (Full article...)
Image 8

Clan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan. The progenitor of the clan, Bartolf, was a nobleman from Hungary, who came to Scotland in 1067. He built a castle at Leslie, from which the clan name derives. (Full article...)
Image 9

Clan Carnegie is a Lowland Scottish clan. (Full article...)
Image 10

Clan MacLeod (/məˈklaʊd/ mə-KLOWD; Scottish Gaelic: Clann Mhic Leòid [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ vĩçkʲ ˈʎɔːtʲ]) is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan, known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ("seed of Tormod") and the Clan MacLeod of Lewis Assynt and Raasay, known in Gaelic as Sìol Torcaill ("seed of Torcall"). Both branches claim descent from Leòd, a Norse-Gael who lived in the 13th century.

Today, Clan MacLeod of The Lewes, Clan MacLeod of Raasay, and Clan MacLeod are represented by "Associated Clan MacLeod Societies", and the chiefs of the three clans. The association is made up of ten national societies across the world including: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. (Full article...)
Image 11

Clan MacThomas is a Highland Scottish clan and is a member of the Clan Chattan Confederation. (Full article...)
Image 12

Clan Campbell (Scottish Gaelic: Na Caimbeulaich [na ˈkʰaimbəl̪ˠɪç]) is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan became Earl of Argyll and later Duke of Argyll. (Full article...)
Image 13

Clan Agnew (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Mac a' Ghnìomhaid) is a Scottish clan from Galloway in the Scottish Lowlands. (Full article...)
Image 14

Clan MacDuff or Clan Duff is a Lowland Scottish clan. The clan does not currently have a chief and is therefore considered an armigerous clan, which is registered with the Lyon Court. The early chiefs of Clan MacDuff were the original Earls of Fife, although this title went to the Stewarts of Albany in the late fourteenth century. The title returned to the MacDuff chief when William Duff was made Earl Fife in 1759. His descendant Alexander Duff was made Duke of Fife in 1889. (Full article...)
Image 15

Clan Ramsay is a Lowland Scottish clan. (Full article...)

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Selected biography

Georgina Fraser Newhall (2 September 1860 – 11 November 1932) was a Canadian author of poetry and short stories, and a teacher. She was the country's first female stenographer. She distinguished herself through her poetic and prose writings. She served as the bardess of the Clan Fraser Society of Canada, and her "Fraser's Drinking Song", set to a stirring martial tune, was adopted as the society's "Faille" (welcome). Newhall wrote numerous articles for leading literary periodicals. Because of her versatility, she championed causes, formulated social ideas, and contributed essays to the press on the social status of women and her place in the economy of the future.

Did you know?

...that the last chief of Clan MacQuarrie sold off his clan lands in Scotland and joined the British Army, at age 68, and fought in the American Revolutionary War?
... that King James IV of Scotland once used Mingary Castle as a stronghold for fighting off clan Donald in the late 15th century?
...that tradition traces Clan Drummond, a Scottish clan from Stirlingshire, to Hungarian origins?
... that in 1747, Aulay Macaulay, the last chief of Clan MacAulay, invented a system of shorthand in an unsuccessful attempt revive his clan's fortune?
... that the Clan Mackintosh fought against the Clan MacDonald and Clan Cameron in 1688, in what is claimed to have been the last Scottish clan battle?
... that Alexander of Islay encouraged Clan Chattan to fight the Battle of Craig Cailloch against Clan Cameron as revenge for the Camerons' defection?
... that members of Scottish clans wear a sprig of a particular plant known as a clan badge, to identify their affiliation?
...that the last chief of Clan MacQuarrie sold off his clan lands in Scotland and joined the British Army, at age 68, and fought in the American Revolutionary War?
... that the 17th chief of the Clan Maclachlan was killed by a cannonball while leading his Jacobite clansmen at the Battle of Culloden in 1746?
...that tradition traces Clan Drummond, a Scottish clan from Stirlingshire, to Hungarian origins?
...that Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe ("Black Tailor of the Axe") got his nickname after killing the rival Scottish Highlands clan chief in battle with a Lochaber axe?

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