Septs and Associated Families

**Jock Scot** · 26th August 07, 05:14 AM

Well done Matt!I was hoping that some one would chip in with a sensible rendition of how families,clans, septs etc. work.Your informed and well phrased piece should help to "clear the fog" no end on this very confusing,to some,matter.

**ChattanCat** · 26th August 07, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Well done Matt!I was hoping that some one would chip in with a sensible rendition of how families,clans, septs etc. work.Your informed and well phrased piece should help to "clear the fog" no end on this very confusing,to some,matter.

Yes Matt, well done. I too did not understand the difference, or is in not a difference?

I wear the MacPherson tartans because they are of the Chattan Clan (or is it the other way around?). Anyway, I am planning on making kilts with any material I can get ahold of at an inexpensive price. As long as I can identify the tartan, I am happy.

Good hunting all,
Wallace Catanach MacPherson Chattan ....

**turpin** · 29th August 07, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Well done Matt!I was hoping that some one would chip in with a sensible rendition of how families,clans, septs etc. work.Your informed and well phrased piece should help to "clear the fog" no end on this very confusing,to some,matter.

Second That - It would make an excellent addition to the Tutorial section

**porrick** · 30th August 07, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by turpin

Second That - It would make an excellent addition to the Tutorial section

Seconded again!

Thanks, Matt.

I am interested in geneology, and have my family on my fathers' side pinned down to an exact address in Belfast early 19th century. Beyond that, things go hazy on that side. Your posting just goes to show the complexity of accurately tracing heritage - and that it is perfectly OK to be bewildered

It is claimed that every living Norwegian/of Norwegian bloodline is in one way or other related to Haraldr hárfagri, Norway's king from 872–933.
Do I pay allegiance to his kin? Do I wear his colours? The only thing we have in common is length of hair

History and geneology are truly interesting and important to understand the present...

... but we live our own lives now, so I am glad there is room for those of us who are not all be obsessed by choosing clan allegiance based on our forefathers' (mis)judgements.

Sometimes it is nice not to know too much - maybe I proudly strut my allegiance to a drunken rapist

I certainly do not approve of my alleged ancestor king Harald's methods - changing society or no changing society.

Don't flame me, this is just meant as an alternative angle of approach to the "I am ancient clan this, and I am ancient clan that; I know - it is proven" - and a thank you to Matt for showing I am not totally in the dark

**Cawdorian** · 30th August 07, 05:30 AM

Matt's post is the best explanation of the Sept/Associated family situation that I have read. We will be manning the tent at Stone Mountain this year, these ideas should help explain this issue to our tent visitors.

Please post it in the tutorial section, hopefully Matt will add it to his blog. (I haven't looked, it may already be there.)

MacWage's explanation of the John Knox name variations is a good example of spelling variations. We should consider names that sound like or are pronunced like a sept or associated name may very well be a spelling variation of the sept or associated name and may not be on the "Official List". We should keep an open mind on these spelling variations. Spelling variations are very common in the USA.

**slohairt** · 30th August 07, 07:21 AM

Dia Dhuit,

It is also interesting that the term "sept" is now being used in reference to "associated families" of Scottish clans. In times past, the term "clan" was generally used to refer to the Scottish institution while "sept" was used almost exclusively to refer to the Irish. Dineen's book on Irish family names is a good example of this.