Who are Scotland's Clan Chiefs?

[Bluescelt]

I heard that they have invited some chiefs to participate in the Tattoo at Edinburgh castle this year.

[Damion]

How do brothers end up chiefs of different clans?

[davidlpope]

How do brothers end up chiefs of different clans?

Both their mother and their father were clan chiefs in their own right. The elder brother takes the more prestigious title (and his mother's surname), the younger takes the less prestigious title.

The chief of the Hamiltons is also the heir to the chieftainship of the Douglases, but as he has not taken that surname Lyon will not recognize him as such.

The chief of the Campbells is the nephew of the chief of the Colquhouns. The Scottish peerage are much connected by ties of descent and marriage.

[Stoff]

Seems that it can be as confusing as family trees here in the southeastern USA.

Christoph

[Nathan]

The article names restauranteur Ranald Macdonald as Chief of the Macdonalds of Clanranald. This, however, is not the case as his father, the 24th of Clanranald is very much alive.

[Damion]

Both their mother and their father were clan chiefs in their own right.

Women cannot be clan chiefs under traditional clan law I thought. If no suitable male heir is available then the chief is meant to be chosen from within a male kingroup, the derbfine. It's the principle of tanistry which is how the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland selected their leaders. The reasoning in part is that clan names are taken from a supposed male ancestor, they can't be conferred from the female line though I suppose adoption is a possibility.

[Nathan]

Women cannot be clan chiefs under traditional clan law I thought. If no suitable male heir is available then the chief is meant to be chosen from within a male kingroup, the derbfine. It's the principle of tanistry which is how the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland selected their leaders. The reasoning in part is that clan names are taken from a supposed male ancestor, they can't be conferred from the female line though I suppose adoption is a possibility.

That's no longer the strict practice of succession. the Chief of Clan Elliott is female.

[Mike S]

That's no longer the strict practice of succession. the Chief of Clan Elliott is female.

Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland is the chief of clan Sutherland as well.

[davidlpope]

Women cannot be clan chiefs under traditional clan law I thought. If no suitable male heir is available then the chief is meant to be chosen from within a male kingroup, the derbfine. It's the principle of tanistry which is how the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland selected their leaders. The reasoning in part is that clan names are taken from a supposed male ancestor, they can't be conferred from the female line though I suppose adoption is a possibility.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Read up on the recent history of Clans Macleod, Hay, and Fraser, for example.

[Damion]

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Read up on the recent history of Clans Macleod, Hay, and Fraser, for example.

I did say traditional laws of succession, not post Highland Revival.