Are You A Clansman?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Heraldically speaking, when you wear your chief's badge, you are showing your loyalty to the cheif. At the heart of it, this is what it means to be a member of the clan. Are you loyal to your clan cheif? Even if one could not prove through geneaology that they were related to the clan, if you were loyal to the cheif, you'd most likely be considered a member.

[Sketraw]

Heraldically speaking, when you wear your chief's badge, you are showing your loyalty to the cheif. At the heart of it, this is what it means to be a member of the clan. Are you loyal to your clan cheif? Even if one could not prove through geneaology that they were related to the clan, if you were loyal to the cheif, you'd most likely be considered a member.

I know what you are referring to here as the 'Chiefs Badge' (Clansmans Badge, Chiefs Crest in a Strap & Buckle) however the 'Chiefs Badge' may well be different to his crest the 'Plant Badge' for example. No Clans person can wear the 'Chiefs Badge' only the Chief's crest in a strap & buckle. The 'Chiefs Cap Badge' again this is different to the Clansman's Cap Badge.

[davedove]

Heraldically speaking, when you wear your chief's badge, you are showing your loyalty to the cheif. At the heart of it, this is what it means to be a member of the clan. Are you loyal to your clan cheif? Even if one could not prove through geneaology that they were related to the clan, if you were loyal to the cheif, you'd most likely be considered a member.

Even with those requirements, there's not really a Scottish clan I can claim. I do have some Scottish ancestors.

The only "clan" to which I have sworn loyalty is the US Army.

And as Steve said, I a member of this great internet clan.

[Sketraw]

Dave, you can join any clan you wish, you don't have to be a so called 'sept' or of the name of that clan or any blood ties what so ever. If they accept you as a member of the Clan/Clan Society then you are a member.

That's how its been for generations don't be drawn into Skene's Victorian romanticism of 'septs' and/or being of the name or family.

To quote Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, GCVO WS (1893-1971) Lord Lyon King of Arms, 1945-1969, after being Carrick Pursuivant and Albany Herald in the 1930’s makes mention in the book Clan Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands 1952 co-authored by Frank Adam that; “septs must be regarded as a rather wonderful effort of imagination” and “The very word ‘sept’ is delusive and no serious attention can now be attached to Skene’s theories about ‘septs”. He also states that some Clan historians could be being found guilty of “sept-snatching”.

"So sometimes sept families are related to the clan chief and his family, but, more likely, they would not be."