The surname Rogerson

[Rogerson785]

Here is a question for all you ancient history buffs out there.

I have been doing some research into the surname Rogerson and what I found out thus far is that Rogerson's did not belong to a Clan or Sept and were not Highlanders.

However, I would imagine that during the period of (1297-1305) and beyond that, perhaps we would have fought alongside these various Clans after William Wallace united the numerous Clans throughout Scotland (Johnston, Bruce, Armstrong, Ferguson and possibly Stewart) only in part to their position in relation to the Dumfries area.

Taken from the Scottish Tartan Authority (http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/Site/home/home.asp), and written by Brian Wilton “Each clan had its own land-owning chief who leased it out to 'tacksmen' who then rented it to the tenant farmers within the clan. In return for this and the protection afforded by the Chief, the clansmen would pledge their allegiance and when called upon, would turn out to fight in the Chief's private army.”

Furthermore, I would think that many of the men of that period living on Scottish soil would have adopted the feleidh mhors long kilt or short kilt depending on the period.

[McGurk]

You seem to be wanting to ask a question, but you've missed that out of your post?

I assume you're looking for confirmation or even suggestion that your blood line may once have been involved with a Scottish clan?

The truth is, it would be very hard to prove or disprove. As you mention, the tennants would be a part of the clan, and would most likely have been relitives, one way or another with most of the rest of the clan, but it is also possable that they where part of the clan simply by virtue of their tennancy.

If you can trace your family directly back to a region in scotland at those times, then you may reason that they might have been part of the clan which owned that land.

[Rogerson785]

I guess that I was asking a question. In previous posts, I have read about the wearing of certain tartans and the main thing to remember is wear any tartan with pride and honor if it is not your family tartan. Perhaps I was trying to justify to myself the buying of yet another kilt.

[gilmore]

I guess that I was asking a question. In previous posts, I have read about the wearing of certain tartans and the main thing to remember is wear any tartan with pride and honor if it is not your family tartan. Perhaps I was trying to justify to myself the buying of yet another kilt.

Far be it from me to dissuade you from buying another kilt, but as has been gone over on other threads, most clan tartans were 19th century inventions.

The earliest evidence of the great kilt is long after the period in question. If you search you will find at least one thread pointing out the anachronisms in
Braveheart." The short kilt came even later.

Further, and most importantly, most men in Scotland and elsewhere at that time were farmers and laborers, not fighters. And given the intercine nature of Edward I's attempts to subdue Scotland, it is probably as likely that your ancestors fought for him, if they fought at all, as it is that they fought for Bruce, Balliol, Wallace, etc. It would have depended on which faction their master or lord was supporting. At the time. Most of the nobles changed allegiances several times.

BTW it wasn't Wallace who united the clans. It was Robert the Bruce after Wallace was killed, and still it could be argued that the clans---as well as Scotland, for that matter--- weren't really united until long after that time

[Graywolf]

A couple of things. The clans were never united. There were always clans opposed to whoever was in power since it diminsihed their own power. The Lords of the Isles signed treaties with England, the Campbells allied with the English at Culloden, although some also fought for the Bonnie Prince.

Personally I believe that was both the strength and the weakness of the Scots -they were so fierce at protecting their own interests, they sometimes, perhaps often, lost sight of the bigger picture. It was always easy for the English to find allies in Scotland to join with them, whether for land, religion, or whatever.

Anyway, here's a link for rogerson.

http://share-hodgson.org/rogerson.html
Unfortunately the name is so common, being Roger's son, it may be hard to link to any given clan, or even to Scotland. But that is not important - if you think you have a link - go for it- wear the tartan you choose with pride - that's all that can be asked.

[beowulf67]

I know this doesn't help much, but my Grandmother's family name was Rogers, and they were English. No Scottish connection at all that we've been able to find. (Unless they helped run my other ancestors out of the country at some point)

[James MacMillan]

Perhaps I was trying to justify to myself the buying of yet another kilt.

Seventh rule of kilt wearing - NO Justification for continued kilt acquisition required!