Tartan Rules

[cacunn]

I am sorry that I seemed to have over stepped in voicing my opinion. Many of the opinions that are expressed as absolutes seem to forget the human factor. My last name is Cunningham. Based on my family tree and family tradition I am of Scottish heritage. Even having been kilted for over a year the only Cunningham kilt I have is my fathers. He was sick and in his 70's when it was made. It is maybe has a 36 inch waist. When I started wearing kilts I weighted over 330 and had a 60 inch waist. I could not see paying the cost of a knife pleated tank for a kilt I could not wear a year later as I loose weight. Or maybe because of family issues I can not afford anything other than a SWK.

Based on the absolutes that have been expressed I should not even consider offering any help at the Cunningham Clan tent.

This is my opinion and with it and a dollar you can get a 25 cent cup of coffee and you get what you pay for.

[BoldHighlander]

Based on the absolutes that have been expressed I should not even consider offering any help at the Cunningham Clan tent.

One of my good friends here in Washington is the state commissioner for Clan Cunningham. I can assure you that not everyone is as absolute as the opinions expressed here. Please don't let this stop you from assisting your clan. Most, like my Cunningham friend, are very appreciative of any assistance.

I have a very close friend who is a Grant, he'll from time to time help out at the Mackay booth (set up & run a military minature game recreating an event in Scottish history), despite the fact that the Grant's have a presence at our games. I always welcome him, despite what tartan he may or maynot be wearing.

[Scotus]

Based on the absolutes that have been expressed I should not even consider offering any help at the Cunningham Clan tent.

As BoldHighlander said, I'll bet the Cunninghams would love to have you help at their tent, regardless of the tartan.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The MacMillan Clan sites lists the following:

Septs of the Clan: Baxter, Bell, Blue, Brown, Millikin/Mullikin, MacBaxter, MacNamell.
Names associated with the clan: Bacster Baker Bakster Baxstair Baxstar Baxstare Baxster Baxtar Baxter Bel Bele Bell Belle Bleu Blue Braun Bron Brouin Broun Broune Brown Browne Browyn Brun Brune Brwne Fuccatour Fuckater Fugater Fugatour Fuggatour Fuktor Fuktour Futtor MacBaxtar MacBaxter MacFaktur MacFuktor MacFuktur MacGhilleghuirm MacGilleghuirm MacGilliegorm MacIlvail MacIngvale MacInnocater MacInnowcater MacInnowcatter MacInnugatour MacInocader MacInuctar MacInucter MacInvaille MacInvale MacInville MacKmillan MacKnockater MacKnocker MacKnockiter MacMhaolain MacMigatour MacMilane MacMillan MacMilland MacMillen MacMillin MacMillon MacMolan MacMolane MacMolland MacMuckater MacMulan MacMulane MacMullan MacMullen MacMullin MacMullon MacMuncater MacMuncatter MacMungatour MacMylan MacMyllan MacMyllane MacNamaoile MacNamell MacNamil MacNamill MacNaucater MacNomiolle MacNomoille MacNowcater MacNowcatter MacNucadair MacNucater MacNucator MacNucatter MacNuctar MacNuicator MacVaxter Makbaxstar Makinnocater Makmilane Makmillem Makmulane Makmullane Makmylan Makmyllan Makmyllane Makmyllen Nucator Valker Waker Walcair Walcar Walcare Walcer Walkar Walker Waulcar

Without doing a search on the Tartan Authority I believe that Brown and also few of the "names associated with the clan" have separate tartan. However, I was speaking somewhat generically. As I understand it the Clan system was not limited by family (blood line) association, but was more of a mutual aid grouping. If you lived in a Clans "borders" and pledged your self to the clan you were a member of the clan.

I'm aware of the various names associated with Clan MacMillan-- I am also aware that almost all of these are variant spellings of six names: MacMillan, Baxter, Bell, Blue, Brown , and Walker. Treating with the last five, we find that these were nicknames of the progenitor of each of these Septs. Baxter=the baker; Bell (or Bellah) indicates living at the mouth of a river on Loch Tay; Blue due to blue eyes; Brown, ditto; Walker= "to wauk the fleece" (preparing wool after the sheep has been shorn). Now all of these names trace back to "MacMillan", and for the purposes of Clan MacMillan, that's the tartan they'd wear. There are two sept names that do not have MacMillan origins: Squire (of Rubislaw) and Way (of Plean), both of whom are members of the clan by bonds of mandrent signed by the late General Sir Gordon MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap, Chief of the Clan. Both of these gentlemen wear MacMillan tartan.

To suggest that a sept (a dependent body of a clan, owing allegiance to its Chief) would have a separate tartan doesn't make much sense. But I can see where reading a list of "names and tartans" could cause some confusion. I think the name "Bell" is an excellent case in point:

There are MacMillan-Bells and then, down in the borders, there are the Blacket House Bells who are in no way connected to the MacMillans. Over the past twenty-five years the Blacket House Bells have formed a family association, located their "Chief Presumptive", and registered a tartan. So, if you look at a tartan list, you will find a "Bell tartan". It's nice. It's blue. But it's nothing whatsoever to do with the MacMillans, and it would be wrong for a MacMillan-Bell to appropriate it as the "Bell" tartan, because it belongs to another family.

What I was referring to in my original post were MacMillans, and that includes all sept names, who are members of the Clan (see the last paragraph of Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw's article as sited above), showing up at a clan event in a tartan other than MacMillan tartan.

No "clan society" that I am aware of requires its members to wear a kilt. Looking neat and tidy is good enough. However, it is reasonable to expect those clan members attending a clan event, who are wearing tartan, to wear their clan tartan and not the tartan of some other clan.

[bjproc]

very interesting post MacMillan, my granny was a Bell, so this clears it up for me as well.

thanks

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . I am going to be highly offended, and shall take it up, directly with the offendee!

But of course, Alan, you know that if you are the one offended then you are the offendee, so you're saying you'll take it up with yourself. I think that's an eminently practical, realistic attitude.

I also think your post as a whole is a delightful piece of parody and I thank you for the amusement it has brought me.

.

[cacunn]

I'm aware of the various names associated with Clan MacMillan-- I am also aware that almost all of these are variant spellings of six names: MacMillan, Baxter, Bell, Blue, Brown , and Walker. Treating with the last five, we find that these were nicknames of the progenitor of each of these Septs. Baxter=the baker; Bell (or Bellah) indicates living at the mouth of a river on Loch Tay; Blue due to blue eyes; Brown, ditto; Walker= "to wauk the fleece" (preparing wool after the sheep has been shorn). Now all of these names trace back to "MacMillan", and for the purposes of Clan MacMillan, that's the tartan they'd wear. There are two sept names that do not have MacMillan origins: Squire (of Rubislaw) and Way (of Plean), both of whom are members of the clan by bonds of mandrent signed by the late General Sir Gordon MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap, Chief of the Clan. Both of these gentlemen wear MacMillan tartan.

To suggest that a sept (a dependent body of a clan, owing allegiance to its Chief) would have a separate tartan doesn't make much sense. But I can see where reading a list of "names and tartans" could cause some confusion. I think the name "Bell" is an excellent case in point:

There are MacMillan-Bells and then, down in the borders, there are the Blacket House Bells who are in no way connected to the MacMillans. Over the past twenty-five years the Blacket House Bells have formed a family association, located their "Chief Presumptive", and registered a tartan. So, if you look at a tartan list, you will find a "Bell tartan". It's nice. It's blue. But it's nothing whatsoever to do with the MacMillans, and it would be wrong for a MacMillan-Bell to appropriate it as the "Bell" tartan, because it belongs to another family.

What I was referring to in my original post were MacMillans, and that includes all sept names, who are members of the Clan (see the last paragraph of Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw's article as sited above), showing up at a clan event in a tartan other than MacMillan tartan.

No "clan society" that I am aware of requires its members to wear a kilt. Looking neat and tidy is good enough. However, it is reasonable to expect those clan members attending a clan event, who are wearing tartan, to wear their clan tartan and not the tartan of some other clan.

Yes you are right.

[Scotus]

No "clan society" that I am aware of requires its members to wear a kilt. Looking neat and tidy is good enough. However, it is reasonable to expect those clan members attending a clan event, who are wearing tartan, to wear their clan tartan and not the tartan of some other clan.

You raise very good points, actually. I remember when I first attended the St. Louis Games, I sat with Canjunscot at the Clan Cumming tent, even though I was in my Drummond tartan. Aside from fervently defending the reputation of The Red Comyn to an equally fervent seneschal from Clan Campbell, I wasn't representing the clan in any way whatsoever. It wasn't until I had my Cumming Hunting kilt that I felt comfortable handing out info. and stamping clan passports (which I got very good at).

[Robertson]

Just a wee suggestion if your a Campbell don't wear a MacDonald