I am trying to figure out how Nixon fits into the clan system.
there is a July 1587 Act of Scottish Parliament that includes "The roll of the clans that have captains, chiefs and chieftains whom on they depend"
Nixon is listed as a Middle March Clan with a captain, chief or chieftain.
My understanding is that once recognized as a clan, legally you may no longer claim to be a sept of another family.

so it would seem, that Nixon is more of a family association with Armstrong - does this sound historically accurate?

On these forums there have been some mention that Borderland families were never clans in the way people understand clans to have been and most certainly never wore any form of highland garb. They were little more than bands of outlaws related to each other, able to exist in the lawless border country before the Union of the Crowns, and to find nowadays pseudo clan societies set up in their names.

So trying to reconcile whether Nixon is a clan as 1587 parliament indicated or not.
If they are, does anyone have any knowledge of who the last clan chief may have been and when - 1500's or later.

thanks for the help,
Shaun