Clan/Sept relationships

[Streetcar]

Hi all!
Been in “lurk” mode for awhile but I’ve got a clan/sept question I hope someone can answer.
I recently learned that one of my ancestors was a highlander by the name of John McReynolds in the late 1600’s. He joined the British Army and moved to Ireland in the 1680’s.
There’s not a McReynolds clan, but I see it associated as a sept for MacDonald of Clanranald, as well as MacDonell Of Keppoch.
Does my ancestor’s surname alone indicate a connection to one of these clans?

[macwilkin]

Hi all!
Been in “lurk” mode for awhile but I’ve got a clan/sept question I hope someone can answer.
I recently learned that one of my ancestors was a highlander by the name of John McReynolds in the late 1600’s. He joined the British Army and moved to Ireland in the 1680’s.
There’s not a McReynolds clan, but I see it associated as a sept for MacDonald of Clanranald, as well as MacDonell Of Keppoch.
Does my ancestor’s surname alone indicate a connection to one of these clans?

Not nescessarily. Be very careful regarding sept lists, since many of them were manufactured to sell more tartan around the time of the Royal visit to Scotland in 1822. There are some true "septs" or "associated families", that associated with a larger clan for protection and/or preformed a service (for example, the Cummings served as pipers to the Chief of the neighbouring Clan Grant), but really, it is more about where your family comes from, rather than the sept list. So, if your McReynolds ancestors lived in the territory of the MacDonald of Clanranalds, then they might have sworn fealty to their Chief.

That's it in a nutshell -- I'm sure Matt will have more to add to this.

Cheers,

Todd

[Ranald]

Hi all!
Been in “lurk” mode for awhile but I’ve got a clan/sept question I hope someone can answer.
I recently learned that one of my ancestors was a highlander by the name of John McReynolds in the late 1600’s. He joined the British Army and moved to Ireland in the 1680’s.
There’s not a McReynolds clan, but I see it associated as a sept for MacDonald of Clanranald, as well as MacDonell Of Keppoch.
Does my ancestor’s surname alone indicate a connection to one of these clans?

The man to answer this is Matt Newsome,You've got a real search on your hands I can tell you.
Btw , my name is Richard Duncan Reynolds.
I use a username that I think my name would have been before it was englicized.
There is a book called the surnames of Scotland by somebody Black, is is a excellent book but may leave you with more questions than answers.
My understanding is that the Mac, Mc means son of, but when a name has a s on the end that also means son of.So it's interesting why the name has both Mc and s in it.
Please keep me informed if you find anything.Pm if neccesary.
best wishes on you quest.

[Streetcar]

I appreciate the insight.
This started as a justification for a tartan choice, but I'm becoming more interested in the specifics.

I'll go back to my source and see if I can get more info on where in the Highlands my ancestor lived.