Feathers and plants

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Many clans/families/names will have affiliations with other clans (where they are sometimes considerd a "sept" - though this is more of an Irish term and not exactly appropriate for families that are considered members of larger clans).

Clan means "children" and "sept" means family. Generally speaking the word "clan" is sometimes used to refer to those who bear the same surname as their chief, while the word "sept" indicates those who bear a different surname, but are still considered part of the overall clan. All are considered to be equally members of their clan whatever their surname.

The term "sept" is completely correct in Scottish usage, and anyone who doubts this is referred to The Clans Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands by Frank Adams, as revised by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon, which covers this distinction in great detail.