Family Name and Clan

[Don Patrick]

Sorry for being out of the net for so long. My motorcycle and I were run down by another vehicle on January 31. It's taken me a while to recooperate.

I guess I'm testing the waters. I for one, believe it is important (at least for myself) that I have some justifiable basis for wearing a particular tartan. Before anyone gets overly upset - this is my own personal belief. A belief I do not suggest should be forced on others.

If I'm correct and if my ancestry possesses the family name that matches a sept or a clan, I submit I'm empowered to wear the tartan of that clan. I understand this to be true from the Clan Chief's web site and believe I can safetly say that several if not many others on this site agree.

Is there some flaw in my assumption?

[J.B. Simpson]

For me as well. I feel that I need a connection to a tartan to wear it. I will not lock myself into a few generations though. My Great Great Grandmother was a Gordon, so in my mind that is my connection to the Gordon Tartans. I just can't get into the "I like it so I will wear it" attitude, but to each his own (I guess some would be grateful that someone wanted to wear their tartan).

[Nighthawk]

I agree. I feel the same way. If I don't have some of blood connection to a clan tartan, I won't wear it, unless it's a military tartan, like the black Stewart. I have no problems with regional or universal tartans, but I wouldn't wear the Lamont tartan because I have no ties to that clan name. On the other hand, the clan system was originally a system where groups of families organized around one standard for mutual protection and strength. Not everyone claiming to be a part of say the MacLeod clan was actually a MacLeod by birth, so if I go to a Highland festival and join the MacLeod clan, then I have no problems (idealistically) with wearing a MacLeod tartan. So there you go- my feelings on the matter.

And by the way- I'm glad you survived your incident, and that you're back. It's good to meet you, Don.

[gilmore]

Don-

I am with you. I don't wear kilts in tartans of clans I have no connection to.

[Don Patrick]

J.B.

It's good to know I'm not alone in this assumption.

[Highland Logan]

I think you may have opened up a very large can of worms. At the end of the day anyone can wear what ever they want, tartan included. So long of course that they don't break any rules, either at work, school or actual law. For a Scottish clansman, he or she would most obviously want to wear the tartan of their clan, it would be the same as a military badge. The tartan would make the wearer recognizable as being from Clan "A". But in the same token there may be those whom like the tartan from Clan "A", and chose to wear it as well. There is no harm in that, and certainly not illegal. I wear my clan tartan, and no other. Hope this helps.

Frank

[J.B. Simpson]

By the way Don I hope you are on the up-side of mending after your accident. Nothing too serious I hope. Get well soon!

[Don Patrick]

Don-

I am with you. I don't wear kilts of clans I have no connection to.

My question goes a bit further. I certainly agree there needs to be an association, But al I also ask, given an associated family name, is anyone aware of any exceptions to this rule or approach?

[Tattoo Bradley]

I like to have some sort of connection myself, though I have no problem if that connection is distant. I'm in on the Carolina run Matt hosted in January. My only connection is that tons of my family, from both paternal and maternal, came from and through NC. I've got Gilmore blood a few generations back, so I wear a Morrison tartan. I'm a Henderson, and even carry the surname, so I wear my two Henderson tartan kilts with great pride. I have a Burns Check tartan on order as well. That tartan was designed as a tribute to the bard, who I admire... so.....



That's all just me though.... some people think differently on both ends of the spectrum.

[Nighthawk]

For me as well. I feel that I need a connection to a tartan to wear it. I will not lock myself into a few generations though. My Great Great Grandmother was a Gordon, so in my mind that is my connection to the Gordon Tartans. I just can't get into the "I like it so I will wear it" attitude, but to each his own (I guess some would be grateful that someone wanted to wear their tartan).

My great great grandfather, my great grandfather and my grandmother had the last name Wolfe. By my great great grandfathers military paperwork, he was a border Scot. The family legend is that we are direct relations to James Wolfe, one of the Whig officers in the 1745 uprising. He refused orders to shoot wounded Clansmen after the battle of Culloden, almost to the point of mutiny. I want a Wolfe family tartan kilt very badly (it's a special weave and expensive) and truth be told, I would have no problems at all with someone wearing it if they had no connection to my family. Heck, it's kinda an ugly tartan, so if you want to wear it, more power to ya... See my avatar.