A Scottish clan (from
Gaelicclann, literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a
kinship group among the
Scottish people.
Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised by the
Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates
Scottish heraldry and
coats of arms. Most clans have their own
tartan patterns, usually dating from the 19th century, which members may incorporate into
kilts or other clothing.
The modern image of clans, each with their own tartan and specific land, was promulgated by the Scottish author
Sir Walter Scott after influence by others. Historically, tartan designs were associated with Lowland and Highland districts whose weavers tended to produce cloth patterns favoured in those districts. By process of social evolution, it followed that the clans/families prominent in a particular district would wear the tartan of that district, and it was but a short step for that community to become identified by it.
Many clans have their own
clan chief; those that do not are known as
armigerous clans. Clans generally identify with geographical areas originally controlled by their founders, sometimes with an ancestral
castle and clan gatherings, which form a regular part of the social scene. The most notable clan event of recent times was
The Gathering 2009 in
Edinburgh, which attracted at least 47,000 participants from around the world.
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald (
Scottish Gaelic: Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill[ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠˈt̪õː.ɪʎ]), is a Highland
Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The
Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the
Court of the Lord Lyon, recognises under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of
Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of
Earl of Ross until 1476.
Queen Mary of Denmark is member of Clan Donald.
Clan Maclachlan, also known as Clan Lachlan, Clann Lachainn (Argyll), and Clann Lachlainn, is a
HighlandScottish clan that historically centred on the lands of Strathlachlan (Srath Lachainn "Valley of Lachlan") on
Loch Fyne,
Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. The clan claims descent from Lachlan Mor, who lived on Loch Fyne in the 13th century, and who has left his name upon the countryside he once controlled: places such as Strathlachlan, Castle Lachlan and Lachlan Bay. Tradition gives Lachlan Mor a descent from an Irish prince of the
O'Neill dynasty,
Ánrothán Ua Néill, son of Áed, son of
Flaithbertach Ua Néill,
King of Ailech and
Cenél nEógain, died 1036. Clan Maclachlan has been associated with other clans, such as
Clan Lamont,
Clan Ewen of Otter,
Clan MacNeil of Barra, and the
MacSweens: as all claim descent from Anrothan O'Neill who left Ireland for
Kintyre in the 11th century. From this descent the clan claims a further descent from the legendary
Niall Noigíallach,
High King of Ireland, who lived from the mid 4th century to the early 5th century.
The clan took part in the
Jacobite risings as loyal supporters of the
Stuart kings of Scotland. The seventeenth
chief of the clan was killed in the
Battle of Culloden in 1746. Following the Jacobite defeat, a Government warship is said to have damaged the clan seat of old Castle Lachlan. (Full article...)
Clan MacLeod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis (
Scottish Gaelic: Clann Mhic Leòid Leòdhais), is a
HighlandScottish clan, which at its height held extensive lands in the
Western Isles and west coast of
Scotland. From the 14th century up until the beginning of the 17th century there were two branches of Macleods: the MacLeods of
Dunvegan and
Harris (
Clan MacLeod); and the Macleods of the
Isle of Lewis. In
Gaelic the Macleods of Lewis were known as Sìol Thorcaill ("Seed of Torquil"), and the MacLeods of Dunvegan and Harris were known as Sìol Thormoid ("Seed of Tormod").
The traditional
progenitor of the MacLeods was
Leod, made a son of
Olaf the Black,
King of Mann and the Isles, by a now-discredited tradition. An older, more accepted tradition names his father Olvir and describes the clan as Sliochd Olbhur. Tradition gave Leod two sons,
Tormod - progenitor of the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan (Sìol Thormoid); and
Torquil - progenitor of the Macleods of Lewis (Sìol Thorcaill). In the 16th and early 17th centuries the chiefly line of the Clan Macleod of The Lewes was nearly extinguished by the bloodthirsty and power hungry chief "Old Rory" and his various offspring. This feuding directly led to the fall of the clan, and loss of its lands to the
Clan Mackenzie. One line of the 16th century chiefly family, the Macleods of Raasay, survived and prospered on their lands for centuries thereafter. The current chief of Lewis descends from this latter family. (Full article...)
They supported
Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century. In the centuries that followed they were anti-
Jacobite. The territory of the Clan Mackay consisted of the parishes of
Farr,
Tongue,
Durness and
Eddrachillis, and was known as
Strathnaver, in the north-west of the county of
Sutherland. However, it was not until 1829 that Strathnaver was considered part of Sutherland when the chief sold his lands to the
Earls of Sutherland and the
Highland Clearances then had dire consequences for the clan. (Full article...)
Private and local clan battles (Many of these also had links at national level, including the feuds between Clan Donald and the Crown, Clan Douglas and the Crown and the Mary, Queen of Scots civil war)