A question regarding looking for Clan affiliation in my genealogy....

[EdmondKinghorn]

I think that you appear to go further back in your family history than most Scots bother to do. Just choose ONE tartan and stick with it, is what most Scots do. Why? Family histories generally get more unreliable the further back we go, perhaps that is why we over here rarely bother to discuss the matter and more importantly, we generally find that collecting tartans in kilt form is an unnecessary complication and expense.

Well, as I said, I understand this is an unimportant exercise for the most part. But, for me, it's about learning about my roots. I don't intend to go and purchse a kilt in every tartan I might have a minute connection to. Really, I am just trying to expand my research a bit and justbsee where things lead me.

[Jock Scot]

Well, as I said, I understand this is an unimportant exercise for the most part. But, for me, it's about learning about my roots. I don't intend to go and purchse a kilt in every tartan I might have a minute connection to. Really, I am just trying to expand my research a bit and justbsee where things lead me.

I quite understand and I wish you luck.

[ctbuchanan]

As you correctly identified, your Kinghorn surname seems to be locational. From a quick search it would seem to be most commonly associated with Fife District (also commonly referred to as the Kingdom of Fife). You could certainly adopt the Duke of Fife Tartan which is commonly known at the Fife District tartan. There is also a newer Pride of Fife tartan.

You could then continue to search your history without having to worry about a slim connection to a clan.

Here in the USA there is a group called the Scottish District Family Association which is active at many Highland games and Scottish festivals.

[Lallans]

My family of border reivers is on both sides of the border but my side considers itself traditionally Scottish and Ulster Scots and is listed as a sept of the MacDonalds, as are a great many Scottish families it seems. I used that until I came across Clan Forrester, who have organized themselves anew down in the southern USA ('did it themselves' because the last laird died and being a Jacobite was not renewed) . Now I use their tartan and clan associations.

To continue with my personal story, I have to say that Ancestry.com happily placed the large majority of my DNA all over Scotland with relatives mostly in the Scottish Lowlands and then Ulster and then North America, all of which followed family traditions on the paternal side. The big surprises were no native blood (as was hoped for) and a good dollop of Norwegian genes from long ago, which undoubtedly means that in forums like this I can't rag on the Vikings for attacking the Lallans homeland anymore.

[Steve Ashton]

The thing to keep in the back of your mind when doing your genealogy is - first, DNA cannot tell you nationality or language or social connections.

And second that you do not have just one line of ancestry. You have 2 parents - who each have 2 parents - who each have 2 parents.

If you go back just 5 generations you have 32 grandparents. 32 different and separate lines.

And it all comes down to where your ancestors lived. If they lived in Glasgow, Edinburgh or anywhere south of Stirling. Or on the East coast south of Aberdeen. They may not have considered themselves as affiliated with a Highland Clan and may not have felt that they had a Clan Tartan.

[Lallans]

The thing to keep in the back of your mind when doing your genealogy is - first, DNA cannot tell you nationality or language or social connections.

And second that you do not have just one line of ancestry. You have 2 parents - who each have 2 parents - who each have 2 parents.

If you go back just 5 generations you have 32 grandparents. 32 different and separate lines.

And it all comes down to where your ancestors lived. If they lived in Glasgow, Edinburgh or anywhere south of Stirling. Or on the East coast south of Aberdeen. They may not have considered themselves as affiliated with a Highland Clan and may not have felt that they had a Clan Tartan.

It's nice when DNA confirms family traditions though. As far as attitudes go, did my Scots ancestors consider themselves highlanders? For the great majority, almost certainly not.