Clan MacEvil

[Chas]

I have no desire to take anything away from Clan MacEvil or its members, who are a fine body of people, I'm sure.

BUT

By their own admission they are a group of friends more than relations and no one in the group is called MacEvil. The 'Chief' of Clan MacEvil is Joel Noecker.

All that having been said, I wonder what the Keeper of the Scottish Register of Tartans was thinking about, when he allowed this name and just what names are unacceptable.

The following is taken from the Scottish Register of Tartans Guidance Document:

Registration Criteria
Anyone can apply to register a tartan in the Register. The full text concerning registration can be read in the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008 Sections 6, 7, 8 and 9, available online at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2008/pdf/asp_20080007_en.pdf.

We would strongly advise you to submit your tartan for registration before having it woven to check that it meets the criteria for registration. The criteria for registration are:

1. that the tartan meets the definition contained in the Act and is sufficiently different to all other tartans already recorded in the Register
2. that the name of the tartan is acceptable.

To register a tartan you will need to have registered an account in the Register. You must then complete the Tartan Registration form available on the website.

Regards

Chas

[CDNSushi]

All that having been said, I wonder what the Keeper of the Scottish Register of Tartans was thinking about, when he allowed this name and just what names are unacceptable.

I dunno.. Mac maybe? Or Mac%@$#!&

Why do you think that MacEvil might not be acceptable?

I imagine that the rule you quoted is intended to keep out tartan names that might be racist, sexist, somehow offensive... Is MacEvil offensive?

[Semiomniscient]

I dunno.. Mac maybe? Or Mac%@$#!&

Why do you think that MacEvil might not be acceptable?

I imagine that the rule you quoted is intended to keep out tartan names that might be racist, sexist, somehow offensive... Is MacEvil offensive?

I don't think it's offensive. But perhaps a bit silly... but does "silly" mean "inappropriate"? I brought up the question on a different Scottish Attire discussion group about the very same kind of thing asking if a tartan could be named for something absolutely ridiculous like "The Insane Flying Zombie Slayers of Atlantis" tartan. I was told by Matt Newsome, that if it were paid for, it would likely be approved. I didn't like that answer. However, if it were a club, then it might be nice to be able to have a club tartan. "MacEvil" is essentially a close group which identifies with each other as a "clan" or "family". Some people are not so fortunate to have close ties with their biological family and have made stronger non-familial ties with those outside their genetic line. Socially, this should be accepted, and if they desire to have a tartan, then they should... albeit my traditionalist inclinations would wish it was called something other than "MacEvil". :-)

[Chas]

I dunno.. Mac maybe? Or Mac%@$#!&

Why do you think that MacEvil might not be acceptable?

I imagine that the rule you quoted is intended to keep out tartan names that might be racist, sexist, somehow offensive... Is MacEvil offensive?

I am not saying that it is offensive, but it is certainly frivolous. MacEvil would be translated as 'Son of Evil'.

Regards

Chas

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I imagine that the rule you quoted is intended to keep out tartan names that might be racist, sexist, somehow offensive... Is MacEvil offensive?

It's not offensive, but it is a phonetic English spelling of one of the Gaelic versions of the name MacMillan:

MacQwhewyl; MacChewill; MacKevoil; MacEvoil (McEvill, etc.). [THE MACMILLANS AND THEIR SEPTS, by Somerled MacMillan, Glasgow, 1952.]

As far as I know, there is nothing to prevent someone designing a tartan and naming it after an existing clan-- Black MacMillan being the most recent example of a fashion tatrtan being designed, registered, and marketed without the knowledge or approval of a clan chief.

Unlike the instance just cited, I doubt the designers were aware of the name "MacEvil", and I certainly don't think they have any intention of marketing it as a "clan" tartan in the same way the designers of Black MacMillan marketed their tartan as a "Clan MacMillan" tartan.

Still, it does show a certain "lack of care and due diligence" on the part of the registering authority in accepting the names submitted to them by tartan designers.

[CDNSushi]

Still, it does show a certain "lack of care and due diligence" on the part of the registering authority in accepting the names submitted to them by tartan designers.

I'm not trying to be contrary but that, it would seem, is rather arbitrary unless an authority such as the Lord Lyon, for instance, or maybe some branch of the government (seeing that it's a government website) were to deem that tartan names should not be frivolous or maybe follow some set of rules or guidelines.

Barring that, the registering authority is probably just covering their legal tail in reserving the right to disallow "inappropriate" names without further clarification of what that might entail. Until then, everyone's definition of due diligence is bound to vary unless specifically defined.

As for "The Insane Flying Zombie Slayers of Atlantis" tartan, I say why not? There are plenty of corporate tartans... What if I opened up a pizza shop by the above name and wanted a tartan bearing the shop's namesake?

Then again, I don't see a problem with rubber chicken sporrans either...

[Zardoz]

I, for one think it's a fun idea, and I really like the tartan. If Rocky ever makes it avalible in PV I'll likely try to get permission to wear it.

Maybe he can design a McPertinacious tartan for everybody else

[Chas]

Just for a little clarification. Further on in the Scottish Register of Tartans Guidance Document:

The addition of traditional tartan descriptors to a tartan name e.g. 'Hunting Smith', 'Modern Smith', 'Dress Smith' etc. will be accepted as unique names for the purposes of the Register. However, the applicant will be required to offer proof of his/her association with the original tartan and appropriate authority to register further versions of it. Under the terms of the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008 Section 7(2)(a), the Keeper must refuse to register a tartan (a) if the applicant's association with the name of the tartan is insufficient or insubstantial, or (b) if the name of the tartan is undesirable i.e. in the view of the Keeper the name is likely to mislead the public as to the true nature of the purposes of the person/body registering it, or is deemed to be frivolous or offensive. It is not possible to register a tartan name which is greater than 200 characters in length.

So if the name is not trying to mislead the public, the members of Clan McEvil must have convinced the Keeper that they really are the 'Sons of Evil'. It seems also that "The Insane Flying Zombie Slayers of Atlantis" is out as well.

Regards

Chas

[CDNSushi]

It seems also that "The Insane Flying Zombie Slayers of Atlantis" is out as well.

What're you talking about? The Insane Flying Zombie Slayers of Atlantis is WELL under 200 characters!

[Paul]

Just for a little clarification. Further on in the Scottish Register of Tartans Guidance Document:



So if the name is not trying to mislead the public, the members of Clan McEvil must have convinced the Keeper that they really are the 'Sons of Evil'. It seems also that "The Insane Flying Zombie Slayers of Atlantis" is out as well.

Regards

Chas

I find the name of the tartan rather humorous to be honest. I find it absolutely appropriate due to the description, especially since both the tartan and the meaning are rather personal.