Clan adoption

[gilmore]

One could come within the protection of a certain clan by a bond of manrent.
Such a bond was made by an inferior giving homage to a superior--in this case the chief--in exchange for protection. The inferior would be bound by the same obligations as other clansmen had to their chief.

Such bonds are still made within some clans, but they really have no
"teeth" and are just sort of a way to become affiliated with a clan.

Yes, manrent was prohibited by the parliament of Scotland a few centuries ago, and such agreements made void. But according to MacMillan of Rathsdown at least a couple have been entered into in recent years between now-living men and a clan chief. See the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manrent