The right to wear a clan tartan

[smaughazard]

Given that, I'm trying to understand how someone could say "Your daddy's name wasn't McNugget, so you don't have any right to that tartan!"

As Matt Newsome says: "There are no tartan police." Although there are some wannabes…

As a side note, just having the proper last name does not automatically make you a member of a clan, nor does having a different name prevent you from joining a clan. Most often the telling point is "Have you paid your dues?"

But if your last name IS McNugget, then you're too CHICKEN to join anyway!

[MacWage]

As Matt Newsome says: "There are no tartan police." Although there are some wannabes…

As a side note, just having the proper last name does not automatically make you a member of a clan, nor does having a different name prevent you from joining a clan. Most often the telling point is "Have you paid your dues?"

But if your last name IS McNugget, then you're too CHICKEN to join anyway!

There are "Tartan Police"-> US!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are some of the most knowledgable on the matter. Maybe we could make up a "Tartan police" version of our X Marks kilt pin/badge or patch.
(Matt Newsome is a chief detective.)

As for female lineage->
Many titles are passed down though marriage, including several chiefs. Also, the English/British royal family itself has passed though the female line numerous times.
In the Pictish world, kingship was through the female line.
Thee is a number of theories of which lines clan membership may go through.
Most of my own Scottish family names cross through the female line one time or another (or adoption), yet 90% is Scottish. My own name may be even made up around 1690/91 (significant date to Scots escaping a particular series of rebellions :rolleyes: ).

I feel I have legit ties to:
MacNeil (through the Neels in Newberry, SC)
Wallace (also through Newberry)
Wilson (again-> Newberry)
Todd (Georgia/Atlanta)
Akin (Early SC)

ALL through a female line.

My last name is VERY rare, all related, and of unkown origin, though the earliest I've seen as real/proven is a William Wages, 1691 (Jamestown, Virgina). His place of origin is unknown, just that he arrived by ship and was seeking land. ALL of the other names of those with him were Scottish. YET, there is no Wages or Wagers in any Scot name book. (I've been told by several Scots that it may be a derivative of Wallace, during a period that many Wallaces were held suspect of treason. Much like the Long/Laing above.)

Many clan societies members join through name/septs/wife's name/interest/friend. I've met a surprising number of highly respected members that have NO blood association. Membership is a matter of EACH society.

Clan MacNugget, must be a sept of Clan MacDonald :rolleyes:
Sounds like a bunch of chickens to me.
Slogan: "Cocle-dodle-doo" (meaning uncertain)
Crest: Bared Talon

[Colin]

But what I'm getting at is this:
Take an indivdual who does not have a so-called "blood line lineage" to a particular clan. That person (for whatever reason) learns about the clan and maybe goes so far to contact the chief of the clan, asking for admission - or at least "permission" to wear that clan's tartan. (After all, even the ancient clans adopted members from different backgrounds.)

If the purpose of the modern clan deals with preservation of history, would there be any reason for the chief to deny the request? Even without the chief's "permission," the kilt is being worn knowledgebly and with respect to the associated clan.

Given that, I'm trying to understand how someone could say "Your daddy's name wasn't McNugget, so you don't have any right to that tartan!"

I don't see why anyone would deny the request, and I think it is admirable for someone without any connection to a particular clan to seek the "permission" of the clan chief. To me it is not only showing respect to that tartan, but also to the family name attached to it, and all that carry that name.

The other approach is to join that clan's Clan Society. You would than be a card carrying member and no one could tell you you shouldn't be wearing a particular tartan. Clans did welcome people with different names into the clan, and I am sure the Society s no different.

Was there a particular clan and tartan you were thinking of?

[macwilkin]

I don't see why anyone would deny the request, and I think it is admirable for someone without any connection to a particular clan to seek the "permission" of the clan chief. To me it is not only showing respect to that tartan, but also to the family name attached to it, and all that carry that name.

The other approach is to join that clan's Clan Society. You would than be a card carrying member and no one could tell you you shouldn't be wearing a particular tartan. Clans did welcome people with different names into the clan, and I am sure the Society s no different.

Was there a particular clan and tartan you were thinking of?

Many clan societies, such as my own, offer "associate memberships" to those who have no "blood tie" to the clan, but an interest in and a desire to support, preserve and promote the heritage and history of the clan.

Cheers,

Todd

[Streetcar]

Was there a particular clan and tartan you were thinking of?

No, there's not. My question is based on some of the comments I occasionally see on other threads, in which people express some vehemence about "who can wear that tartan."

Again, given that today's clan organizations are nothing like they were two hundred plus years ago, I'm trying to understand the mindset behind the attitude.

Personally, I can trace a lineage to Ulster Scotts and then to McDonalds of Keppoch and ClanRanald, if I want.

However, (like most people on these boards) I'm firmly in the school of "Wear what you want, just know what you're wearing."

[HeathBar]

So for those of you with that direct lineage, what is clan affiliation like today? Is there a service done to/for the clan chieftain? What does the clan do for its members? How is wearing the clan tartan different for a “clan member” than it is for someone else? If I were to swear allegiance to a clan chief, what would that gain me? What would my obligations be to the clan?

Today, your clan chief is not likely to call on his members to fight a battle. But they might call on us to support a cause or charity near and dear to the chief. Obligations to the clan society, should be to help promote the clan society at such events as highland games or Tartan Day celebrations. But sadly most members of any given clan society are passive in that the pay there dues and read the newsletter.
I do have a question along these same lines. I have read here that one shows allegiance to the clan chief by wearing the chief's crest, usually in badge form. Well... what about plant badges? I haven't heard alot spoken about that. Or are plant badges reserved for historical dress?

[macwilkin]

I do have a question along these same lines. I have read here that one shows allegiance to the clan chief by wearing the chief's crest, usually in badge form. Well... what about plant badges? I haven't heard alot spoken about that. Or are plant badges reserved for historical dress?

You will occasionally see a plant badge, usually behind the chief's crest badge on a bonnet at the games, Tartan Day, etc. I have a sheaf of wheat that I wear (though not all the time) behind my badge; our plant badge is actually the Cumin plant, but over the years, the garbs of cumin on the Chief's arms have been depicted as wheat.

It is done, but just not common.

Cheers,

todd

[Robin]

Since I was not sure about my "right" to wear the MacLaren tartan I contacted the clan society.
I told them what I knew about my Laurie ancestors and asked if I was entitled to wear their tartan...I was welcomed as a clanmember.
I had a very nice email conversation with Hugh MacLaren, I was invited to join the clan society, but not "pushed". It was not something like: "yeah sure! pay and all is fine".

I'll visit Balquhidder...the clan seat...this summer. I like to learn all about the clan, goes without saying I wear the tartan with great pride.

[pbpersson]

Okay, so getting back to the tartan police....I already have a Stillwater Nightstalker on order. That is a "safe" tartan and the tartan police cannot get me on that one.

ASSUMING that by some miracle that would be beyond my wildest dreams I can wear kilts at work, if I buy the following tartans from Stillwater I will have a "fancy" kilt for every day of the week:

Black Stewart
Black Watch
Hunting McLeod
Irish National Tartan

So...when the tartan police come after me and give me a quiz to see if I am "authorized" to wear these tartans, what do I need to know about them? Where do I get some information and/or history?

Or should I be honest as some of you have suggested and say I bought them because they looked nice?


Phil

[Riverkilt]

Paternal or maternal, I like to honor my clans...every female ancestor had a father that gave her his name.

I have four Macdonald kilts, 2 generic, Macdonald Lord of the Isles, and Macdonald of Kingsburgh, my family's home area before the clearances. I trace my lineage back seven generations to Ludavic Macdonald of Uig, Skye.

I have a Cameron kilt to honor Catherine Cameron, the wife of John Macdonald Sr. They brought the family to Nova Scotia during the clearances.

I have a Scott kilt coming to honor my mother's maternal lineage and my Scott ancestors who fought in the war of 1812.

I have a two Gordon kilts to honor my Gordon ancestors and particularly the spunk of my great great grandmother who crossed the Bozeman Trail by wagon train in 1866.

I have a Fraser kilt to honor the rogue ancestor who left his family and returned to Scotland.

I just found out my Lewis line is a sept of MacLeod of Lewis...the Loud MacLeod tartan...I'm thinking about that one...

And yes, an Ireland's National for my Irish ancestors.

Most of my tartan kilts are tied to an ancestoral clan. Not so much to be part of that clan - which I probably could if I wasn't spending my money on kilts instead - but to honor them.

I am aware of that connection when I wear a clan tartan kilt. I think I stand a little taller and feel an appropriate pride - even a connection to those ancestors.

And a gratitude. Had they not survived the adversity of their times, I'd not be here at all.

Ron