~ Scottish Names - the Clans and Families ~

  Scottish names and the Clans 

Many Scottish surnames are linked to Clans. Why?...

...During the 13th century, the Gaelic word for ‘children’ - "Clanna" -was more accurately translated as ‘family’ in the Scottish Highlands. A clan is basically a social group whose core comprises a number of families derived from, or accepted as being derived from, a common ancestor. Almost without exception, that core is accompanied by a further number of dependent and associated families who have either sought the protection of the clan at some point in history or have been tenants or vassals of its chief. That chief is owed allegiance by all members of the clan, but ancient tradition nevertheless states that ‘the Clan is above the Chief’.

     Although Gaelic has been supplanted by English in the Lowlands of Scotland for nearly a thousand years, it's an acceptable convention to refer to the great Lowland families, such as the Douglases, as Clans, (although the heads of certain families, e.g. Bruce, prefer not to use the term). The father’s clan was generally given allegiance, but Celtic tradition includes a strong element of descent through, and loyalty to, a mother’s line. In reality, the chief of a clan would ‘ingather’ any stranger – of whatever family – who possessed suitable skills, maintained his allegiance and, if required, adopted the clan surname.

     However, it's estimated currently that there are over 16,000 (spelling variations included) Scottish surnames, but fewer than 3,000 of these are of Highland origin and associated with Clans. The majority of Scots throughout history lived in the Lowlands and developed a culture which produced the bulk of Scotland’s genius, but without the glamour that is now associated with their Highland neighbours.

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