Joining A Clan?

[Scotus]

Clan Hunter required the geneology to show name connection for membership.

Clan Donald does too, if memory serves. Most do not. Most only require that there is some connection to the Scottish name that is the name of the chief, or the name of an associated family of said clan (I really don't like the word "sept"). There are some, however, who only require that you wish to join them in their activities.

Sorry, Mike, but Scotus' post was much more diplomatic to clan societies.

Thank you, Todd. Since I am a member of the clan society of which you are president, I must say that my experience with my clan society has been positive. I cannot say that about another clan society to which I once belonged.

[Bugbear]

Gilmore is correct. Clans were abolished a couple hundred years ago. There are people referred to as clan chiefs because they inherited the title. Legally they are chiefs of nothing.

First, I said I slightly dissagree with gilmore. Second the title that is legally inherited is of something, a family line, so your statement is counter intuitive. Third, I said this disagreement was mostly out of intuition.

Finally, I really don't care because I have been put back in my cage by Nighthawk . So, I think the idea of the clan, not just Highland clans, has spilled out into many other things as Western culture has changed. I also think that there is a disturbance in the balance of the force... and we are feeling it on this forum. Please cover my cage when you leave for the evening.

[Dirk Skene]

SOme clans allow membership "by adoption." Which means that the chief accepts the person as a clansman.

[Tommy Hunt]

Clan Donald does too, if memory serves. Most do not. Most only require that there is some connection to the Scottish name that is the name of the chief, or the name of an associated family of said clan (I really don't like the word "sept"). There are some, however, who only require that you wish to join them in their activities.

I think this was the requirement of Hunter. I mean if Jose Mendez wanted to join he'd have to show an ancestor with the Hunter name or an acceptable variation of that name such as Hunt. That's my understanding at this point anyway.

[Jack Daw]

Since Gunnar's question has been answered, may I hijack this thread?

[macwilkin]

Gilmore is correct. Clans were abolished a couple hundred years ago. There are people referred to as clan chiefs because they inherited the title. Legally they are chiefs of nothing.

I can't say I agree with such a strong statement. Whilst I agree that the clan system is a shadow of it's former self, I can't agree that the chiefs are "chiefs of nothing". The Lyon Court and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs certainly don't think so. Legally the arms of the chief are protected by Scottish law.

Todd

[Alan H]

It's 1620. Thomas Hawley, from northern Northumblerland is running away from the law, seeing as He has been accused of stealing from the local abbey. Whether he actually did steal anything or not, is irrelevant...he runs north and east, because if he doesn't, someone is going either kill him or cut off his hands. He winds up working a coastal fishing boat and skips off the boat when it anchors in the Firth of Tay. Three weeks later he's found himself a comely lass in a family that owes allegiance to the Lindsays.

He settles down and quits his wandering ways, marries the lass and swears allegiance to the Lindsay Laird.

He's a Lindsay: He's English, he has no genetic connections to the Lindsays, and his name is Hawley. But now, he's a Lindsay, his children are Lindsays, etc.

Now, what's the modern equivalent of that?

[CDNSushi]

He's a Lindsay: He's English, he has no genetic connections to the Lindsays, and his name is Hawley. But now, he's a Lindsay, his children are Lindsays, etc.

Now, what's the modern equivalent of that?

A child gets adopted into a family via. an adoption agency? Birth mother may have been part German and part Italian but if the adopted child's family is named Robertson he just might grow up wearing a kilt...

[Carolina Kiltman]

Exactly! Birth, Marriage, Adoption/assimilation. Adoption has legal status, assimilation does not. But legality has for example, never kept people not married to each other from producing children!

[macneighill]

Interesting discussion, thus so far. I found these 2 definitions, both from Webster's Dictionary (one from 1913 and, the other is from Webster's website).


Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913):

Clan \Clan\, n. [Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir. clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion, slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n.]

1. A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. ``I have marshaled my clan.'' --Campbell.

2. A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of persons united by some common interest or pursuit; -- sometimes used contemptuously.

Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. --Smolett.

The whole clan of the enlightened among us. --Burke.

Merriam-Webtser Online:

Clan

Pronunciation: \ˈklan\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic clann offspring, clan, from Old Irish land plant, offspring, from Latin planta plant

Date: 15th century

1 a: a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor b: a group of people tracing descent from a common ancestor : family

2: a group united by a common interest or common characteristics