maternal heritage - can i wear a clan kilt?

[tripleblessed]

The border was fluid for hundreds of years, and much of Northumberland was at times in Scotland. The Earls of Dunbar
held sway in what is now England, and after supporting Scotland in a losing fight with England had to move north to survive.
Nixons were on both sides of the border wherever it might have been, and were listed as a border clan in the 1597 decree
by the Scottish Parliament. I note that because I have always been of the opinion that Parliament, living in and among
clans, was probably in a better position to know what a clan was/is and who was or wasn't than modern historians and
the many who like to limit such things to their own little group. Nixons, Bells, Olivers, Jardines, and the like were clans.
Period. When it became apparent that the border folk, militarized and impoverished by both sides, were not suddenly by act
of Parliament going to become calm, peaceful, and docile, they were bundled up and shipped out to Ireland and/or the colonies.
Many sent to Ireland found it a less than happy shift, and after a generation or three moved on force, necessity, and/or choice to North America or Australia. Digging around in one's genealogy reveals some very grim times for those unwanted by the Crown
and/or their chiefs.

Nixons were family regardless of where the border wound up, and while Armstrong is armigerous, it does have a family trust
and there is the Clan Armstrong Society, which considers Nixons, Croziers and Fairbairns as family.

Kilt up, and have fun.

[neloon]

Bill,
I think there is much in what you say. However, to quote Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt, who has for many years been Rothesay Herald

"... if a person offers his allegiance to a particular chief by joining his clan society or by wearing his tartan, he can be deemed to have elected to join that particular clan and should be viewed as a member of that clan unless the chief particularly states that he or his name group are not to be allowed to join the clan."

From
http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...lies_septs.htm

Alan

[Father Bill]

Very clear and helpful, Alan. Thanks.

[nixonshaun]

Thanks everyone for the valuable input and insight.
I appreciate it greatly, as I go I am learning more and more about my heritage and family history.

Thanks again everyone for the input.
shaun

[celtiac]

A few years ago I attended the Orlando games. Winter Springs? anyway a good friend of mine and fellow musician lives up there and I arranged to get some Jams in and then go to the games the following day. Anyway, all his life, he believed in his Russian Jewish heritage, from his fathers last name. But when we got to the games and went to Clan Gunn because I wished to see Alexis Malcolm, Kiltmaker, the book of Cept names was open to the perfect page. My friend's mother's maiden name Mannus, was right there front and center.

Long story short, Charlie came over and after discovering the identity of my friend, gave him an application to Clan Gunn and now my friend is a member from his Mother's side.