Namesakes

[Bugbear]

Ah, but Gilmore, have you considered or pondered if your ancestors, as they were in their time, would accept or not accept you as you are now? Would you have been accepted into their clan by their chief, or would you have been thrown out and rejected... or worse? I think there are other questions beyond the DNA that might be important before you have the "clan crest" tatooed on your back or spend every last penny you have on a kilt in a tartan.

[Jock Scot]

Gilmore is of course right, but if you feel that you have a connection to Clan Ross, then wear the tartan and learn all there is to know about the clan. You will be most certainly asked one day about the tartan and it would be courteous to the clan to have a sensible answer. There is no need to festoon yourself with clan this that and the other either,5/6/7/8 yards of clan tartan should be enough for anyone to see who you are! In truth, if you feel that your connection with the clan is tenuous, then if any one asks your reply should be in a firm and courteous manner," I am of Clan Ross". No one will argue. You don't need a whole heap of birth certificates, family trees and whatever to prove anything to anyone, other than to yourself, perhaps.

If you are uncomfortable with that and still wish to wear the kilt, there are many options available to you, that will not tread on any clan toes.

[gilmore]

Ah, but Gilmore, have you considered or pondered if your ancestors, as they were in their time, would accept or not accept you as you are now? Would you have been accepted into their clan by their chief, or would you have been thrown out and rejected... or worse? I think there are other questions beyond the DNA that might be important before you have the "clan crest" tatooed on your back or spend every last penny you have on a kilt in a tartan.

It's irrelevant whether my clan ancestors would accept me. Likely they wouldn't. I am sure I would not accept some of them.

Clans are history. The clan system had been in decline for centuries before they were actively suppressed after the '75 uprising. The past is the past, and immutable. Only schizophrenics and prevaricators hold otherwise. The clans one's ancestors were in may be an interesting relic worthy of conversation (or they may not,) but to actively and knowingly misrepresent things for one's own present day self-aggrandizement is a different kettle of haggis.

[Scotus]

It's irrelevant whether my clan ancestors would accept me. Likely they wouldn't. I am sure I would not accept some of them.

Amen to that!

[Bugbear]

It's irrelevant whether my clan ancestors would accept me. Likely they wouldn't. I am sure I would not accept some of them.

Clans are history. The clan system had been in decline for centuries before they were actively suppressed after the '75 uprising. The past is the past, and immutable. Only schizophrenics and prevaricators hold otherwise. The clans one's ancestors were in may be an interesting relic worthy of conversation (or they may not,) but to actively and knowingly misrepresent things for one's own present day self-aggrandizement is a different kettle of haggis.

Fair enough. Just wondering how you view all this, as I am coming from a prospective that I should not wear a clan tartan because the connection is too far back, and has too much non-Scot history inbetween; so picked a more relevant, non-clan tartan to stick with... I agree, though, picking a clan tartan, then making up a connection to it is not a good approach to this.

[Chas]

Jock - you beat me to it -

Thanks to everyones input but can anyone tell me the way to say your lineage? Jock Scot, can u help me out on this? I just dont want to be that one athlete with a dutch name competing in the games and everyone snicker when they announce my surname for Clan Ross?

Sapper, you are getting yourself all twisted up about something that isn't there. If you have pledged fealty to the clan chief or his deputy you are Stiverson of Clan Ross. That's it, there is no more to be said. It is YOU that is pledging allegiance to the clan chief, not some ancestor - YOU.

Regards

Chas