Quote Originally Posted by James the Gilbert View Post
My last name is Gilbert, Clan Buchanan says I belong to their clan.....Are they wrong?
Bailey is also in my heritage..They say there was a clan Baillie...are they wrong?
Should I sell my Buchanan Kilt because they may be wrong? Not further pursue any family history to Scotland?
You have surely put doubt in my mind to my claim of Scottish heritage.
-Advice?
James, you simply have to check where your ancestors came from. Gilbert is a name of Germanic origin that became very popular in Engalnd during the Middle Ages. Check the Wiki here or the Geni.com entry here.
It's not a name I am that familiar with in Scotland. I live in the former Buchanan territories and the local pipe band wears Weathered Buchanan tartan and uses the Buchanan crest, but Gilbert is not a name I hear in these parts.
Surnames mean nothing in terms of septs anyway, check my list of surnames earlier in this thread regarding the MacDonalds of Glencoe, plus Clan Cameron also list Gilbert as a sept. Check your family tree as far back as you can if you want to be sure. Otherwise, just enjoy wearing your Buchanan tartan.