I recently joined Clan MacNaughton.

Now, I have a McKnight in my aancestry, but you know, it's way, 'way back there on my mothers side. The blood connection with the clan is mighty darned thin.

When I joined the clan, I read through the constitution and by-laws. There's an article in there that says that a "broken man"...meaning a man with no land and no clan, can join Clan Macnaughton essentially by paying dues and just joining up. For all practical purposes, that's me, my eight-generations-removed McKnight or not.

Now, honestly, what's the difference between that and some guy from who-knows-where, coming north over the Cheviot Hills, managing to get through the Borders alive, and arriving on the shore of Lock Fyne in 1640? He marries a MacNaughton woman, swears allegiance to the MacNaughtons, and ta-daaa, the guy is a MacNaughton.

All that said, I agree with Cajunscot. Just because someone chooses to wear a "traditional" kilt only to the "traditional" events like weddings, Burns Suppers and Highland Games does not mean we should look down on the guy. When we start thinking "we're better that "HIM" whoever HE is, because we wear kilts more often than HE does, then, well....that's wrong, gentlemen.