Are You A Clansman?

[Jack Daw]

Good for you Jack!
The MacIntyre's have a pretty sizable presence at our local games & are a great bunch of people!

Because you are from Washington State, Terry, you probably saw the Clan MacIntyre SOCIETY. I am a member of Clan MacIntyre Association. Despite the separate organizations, both are in concert to have a Worldwide Gathering of Clan MacIntyre in Taynuilt, Argyllshire, Scotland, in July 2008. My niece, two first cousins, and I are all going.

[BoldHighlander]

Because you are from Washington State, Terry, you probably saw the Clan MacIntyre SOCIETY. I am a member of Clan MacIntyre Association. Despite the separate organizations, both are in concert to have a Worldwide Gathering of Clan MacIntyre in Taynuilt, Argyllshire, Scotland, in July 2008. My niece, two first cousins, and I are all going.

Ah, your probably correct, I never really paid attention to that

What a wonderful experience you'll have. I'm jealous!
I'm sure Joe McIntyre from Washington state will be going. He does all the announcing at the B'ham games, a real nice guy.
Can't wait to hear all about your experience later in the year

[northernsky]

My father's family are Mackinnons and Frasers, my mothers family are Davidsons. So I would consider myself a 'member' of those three families. I happen to like all three tartans, so I will wear them with pride. My dad's side also has German, and Mum's Dutch and I take pride in those connections too. As for being a member of a 'clan' I don't really think they exist anymore in the real sense. I just found out the clan Chieftain of Mackinnon is a woman living in the suburbs of London, whereas I am living in Vancouver Canada. I doubt I have much in common--blood or otherwise--with her, but I certainly wish her well. On my mum's side (the Dutch) we came to Canada in 1777 as UEL (United Empire Loyalists) from Pennsylvania. Before that I don't know...Quakers I think, but I am more Canadian than anything else. My Scottish heritage is just that, heritage. I am a proud of it, but more than that...well my citizenship is Canadian, but my real kinship is with every other person, animal, plant and other living thing on this wonderful planet of ours.

[Rogerson785]

I guess this is as good of any place to post this.

After some serious researching into the surname Rogerson, I did discover that we did not belong to a Clan or Sept and were not Highlanders.

However, I would imagine that during the period of (1297-1305) that perhaps we would have fought alongside these various Clans after William Wallace united the numerous Clans throughout Scotland (Bruce, Armstrong, and Stewart) only in part to their position in relation to the Dumfries area.

Taken from the Scottish Tartan Authority (http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/Site/home/home.asp), and written by Brian Wilton “Each clan had its own land-owning chief who leased it out to 'tacksmen' who then rented it to the tenant farmers within the clan. In return for this and the protection afforded by the Chief, the clansmen would pledge their allegiance and when called upon, would turn out to fight in the Chief's private army.”

Furthermore, I would think that many of the men of that period living on Scottish soil would have adopted the feleidh mhors long kilt or short kilt depending on the time.

[Clockwork John]

I was born a Campbell, and I'll die a Campbell, and that's good enough for me!

HOWEVER...Do I belong to a clan in the sense of a group of friends/family who I know I can rely on in a crisis, and in return they can rely on me in a crisis?

The Irish don't have clans, we have gangs!

In both of these senses, I'm proud to call myself a Rough and Rowdy Gadsden Boy.

There are a few of us who all grew up together, and at one point or another all lived/crashed/mooched/squatted together in my mom's apartment on Gadsden Avenue...

We've all got each other's back, we take care of each other, we defend each other if needed... Just like the old Irish street gangs.

If that's not a clan, then tell me... What is?

[Riverkilt]

Well, sorta maybe...kinda.

I have no trouble tracing my ancestry back through my father Ronald, Murdoch, Archibald, John, John, Gray, and Ludovic Macdonald who was born in Uig, Skye about 1750.

I have a copy of part of an undated petition from "tenant" Gray Macdonald to Lord Macdonald. Would have to be from before 1834 when Gray died. He tells Lord Macdonald that he has been a tennant for 20 years and always paid his rent on time. He has a wife and eight children and now "due to the late arrangements" he has been deprived of his lands and that he "never gave any cause of offense" to Lord Macdonald and that rather than emigrate to America with the other area tenants he would rather stay on the land with his family.

No clue whether he won his petition, but Gray Macdonald didn't emigrate. His son John sailed for America in 1854 with his wife and children but the ship was blown off course in winter storms and they landed in Nova Scotia and stayed put.

So, I'm wondering whether my four-great grandfather Gray Macdonald felt much allegiance to Lord Macdonald since he was booted off his land after 20 years of crofting.

In modern times I've joined Clan Donald for a few yearly memberships and understand the need to charge a fee to keep the Clan expenses paid. But usually it slips by. I know I don't need to pay to be a Macdonald. I was born to it. But I don't confuse that with joining a social clan society.

Trouble is, with all the Scots blood and resulting clans it can be kind of expensive every year. Don't wanna cut back on kilts and accessories.

And living in such a geographically remote area, what's the point. I'll stop by the clan tents at highland games.

Ron

[Macman]

McIntosh is my surname, so dat's my clan! It's great to see so many thoughtful responses, all valid.

[Graywolf]

Having a typical Heinz 57 American pedigree, I can lay claim to many Scottish Anscetors, clans ranging from, so far as I know to date Campbells, Grahams, Mcleods, Stewarts, and many more. This in addition to English, German, French, Norman, Italian, Choctaw, and Lord knows what else. The family has been here since the 1600's, we have many roots. I enjoy my Scottish heritage, probably because the Scots fought for what they perceived as their rights, just as Americans did. I celebrate all my heritage and I can find something good in each of them.

Shouldn't we all.

[Phil]

Interesting only one Scot has posted here so far. I may be alone but I am not aware of any "Clan" system operating in Scotland and certainly don't feel any affinity to others with the same surname per se. To have a recognised clan surname certainly can help when choosing a tartan to wear but I know many friends and acquaintances who prefer another tartan by choice, Buchanan being one glaring example. From the point of view of someone living abroad I can see the romantic attachment and feel of "belonging" which it may convey, however, and as a social thing it will have its attraction but it just does not exist here in that way. Going back to Buchanan, they do have some sort of clan society and I believe it gives charity to needy people (provided they are called Buchanan) and the Town Hall in Bearsden just outside Glasgow used to be the "Buchanan Retreat" where charity was given. Other than this I am not aware of any clan system here nor any desire amongst people to belong to such a thing. What there is, however, are district societies where people who have moved away from their homes in Ayrshire or Caithness etc. gather together to celebrate their identities based on the traditions of their homelands but nothing to do with clans.

[macwilkin]

Interesting only one Scot has posted here so far. I may be alone but I am not aware of any "Clan" system operating in Scotland and certainly don't feel any affinity to others with the same surname per se. To have a recognised clan surname certainly can help when choosing a tartan to wear but I know many friends and acquaintances who prefer another tartan by choice, Buchanan being one glaring example. From the point of view of someone living abroad I can see the romantic attachment and feel of "belonging" which it may convey, however, and as a social thing it will have its attraction but it just does not exist here in that way. Going back to Buchanan, they do have some sort of clan society and I believe it gives charity to needy people (provided they are called Buchanan) and the Town Hall in Bearsden just outside Glasgow used to be the "Buchanan Retreat" where charity was given. Other than this I am not aware of any clan system here nor any desire amongst people to belong to such a thing. What there is, however, are district societies where people who have moved away from their homes in Ayrshire or Caithness etc. gather together to celebrate their identities based on the traditions of their homelands but nothing to do with clans.

Phil,

A number of clans do have societies in the UK, though. Here are a few examples:

http://www.clanmackaysociety.org/

http://www.clan-mackenzie.org.uk/

http://www.clandonald.org.uk/

http://www.clan-duncan.co.uk/

http://www.clangunnsociety.org/futur...athering_2007*

*I chose this one because it does list specific events for the society in Scotland. So your assumption that there is no desire to do such a thing isn't really the case.

Now, doubtless it is not as on a large scale as here in the colonies, but I know of a number of clan societies that have AGMs and other activities in Scotland throughout the year, and both "foreign & domestic" members attend.

Regards,

Todd