Can a non Scot become a clan member?

[Mel1721L]

I confess to being totally ignorant of the clan system. Those who know me, will know I'm English born with Welsh heritage on my mothers side. I never buy Scottish tartans out of respect. I was wondering if clans ever gave honorary membership to foreigners?

[Father Bill]

Clan membership is generally determined by the Clan Chief, and different chiefs have different opinions on that. My own clan is Sinclair, and our chief Malcom Caithness has written that if you share the aims and goals of the clans, then of course you can be a member. Other chiefs want to see some proof of descent, so it gets a bit complicated.

Others may have further information on the topic, so I'm sure you'll shortly be well-informed.

Cheers!

Bill+

[MacThomas]

It seems that the MacKenzie clan is open to non scots in the same way as Clan Sinclair according to Father Bill.

[McClef]

Check also your surname in case in proves to be a Sept of a Clan.

[The farqcom]

Clan Farquharson USA has an "Associate, interested non Farquharson membership" for the same price as regular members, $20/yr to provide folks that opportunity.

Jim McKeehan,
President, CFUSA

[kiltedtom]

Also not too familiar with the workings of the Scottish clan system, my great aunt, my mathernal grandmother's sister, married a MacKenzie. Her son is my second cousin (or something like that) and of course, his children are cousins too. Is the blood relationship too far removed to wear the MacKenzie tartan or claim an, obiously, smaller kinship?

Additionally, my great grandmother, my mother's perternal grandmother, was a Grames. I found out that this is a variation of Graham. Would I have any better claim to membership in the Graham clan since, again, we are talking about three generations removed from my ancestress? I know of no other Grahams in the family tree.

Tom

[Father Bill]

Clan Farquharson USA has an "Associate, interested non Farquharson membership" for the same price as regular members, $20/yr to provide folks that opportunity.

Jim McKeehan,
President, CFUSA

If you're talking about a fee, that's probably the Clan Association. No Clan has any cost attached.

[Father Bill]

Also not too familiar with the workings of the Scottish clan system, my great aunt, my mathernal grandmother's sister, married a MacKenzie. Her son is my second cousin (or something like that) and of course, his children are cousins too. Is the blood relationship too far removed to wear the MacKenzie tartan or claim an, obiously, smaller kinship?

Additionally, my great grandmother, my mother's perternal grandmother, was a Grames. I found out that this is a variation of Graham. Would I have any better claim to membership in the Graham clan since, again, we are talking about three generations removed from my ancestress? I know of no other Grahams in the family tree.

Tom

Generally speaking, the Clan system was set up to recruit warriors. Thus if your mother was a member, you would be assumed to have fealty to the chief, and thus your children & theirs. So would your father, having "married into" the clan. I'm told that some clans however, look for a closer and more formal relationship than that.

Something we all need to keep in mind however, is that with the exception of a few restricted tartans such as the Royal Family's, there is no restriction to wearing them other than your own scruples.

[davidlpope]

Clan membership is generally determined by the Clan Chief, and different chiefs have different opinions on that.

This......

[Geoff Withnell]

If you have English and Welsh heritage, the chance of you not having some Scottish ancestry is quite low. Scotland, England, and Wales are all on the same small island.