Clan from the Gaelic for children can be defined more easily as a group of people which is made up from a number of families with common ancestors.
These family groupings are accompanied by a further number of dependent and associated families who have either sought the protection of the clan at some point in history or have been tenants or vassals of its chief.
Traditionally that chief is owed allegiance by all members of the clan. Allegiance was generally given to a father's clan, but Celtic tradition includes a strong element of descent through, and loyalty to, a mother's line.
However it was common practise for the clan chief to adopt into the family those people with the necessary skills to help the local clan cause. They in turn would normally adopt the clan surname.
To further complicate matters there are also a Clan Sept A Sept is a family name which can be related to a clan or larger family for various reasons: Either through marriage or by seeking protection from a larger and more powerful neighbouring clan or family.
Many of the names which are recorded as septs have since become clans in their own right and many can be related to more than one clan.
We have a list of over 100 clan names in our clan stationery range which are in common usage today. Most of these clans have a current chief and many are still in the great castles and houses of Scotland.
Yours aye
Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com
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