How did Clans become Clans?

[blackbeard]

Greetings all, 9 October, 657amMST


The concept of "Clan" is a Highland and Island thing. The Lowlanders and Borderers are not and never were Clans.


I think the concept of "Clan" as is generally applied to all Scots Families, comes from the time of Queen Victoria, and the lifting of the Disarming Act, which was imposed after Culloden.

The concept of Border Clans has been around a lot longer than “Victorian Romanticism”.
The Scottish Parliament of 1587 recognized both Highland and Border Clans. These excerpts are taken from the Parliamentary Register of July 29,1587.

For the quieting and keeping in obedience of the disordered subjects, inhabitants of the borders, highlands and isles
This legislation is quite lengthy and deals with “the wicked inclination of the disordered subjects, inhabitants in some parts of the borders adjacent to England and in the highlands and isles, delighting in all mischiefs and most unnaturally and cruelly wasting, slaying, harrying and destroying their own neighbours and native country people”

After describing how the government is going to deal with this group of unruly inhabitants, it goes on to name specific clans:

“The roll of the clans that have captains, chiefs and chieftains whom on they depend, often times against the will of their landlords, as well on the borders as highlands, and of some special persons of branches of the said clans”
Middle March

• Elliotts
• Armstrongs
• Nicksons
• Crosiers

West March

• Scotts of Ewesdale
• Batesons
• Littles
• Thomsons
• Glendinnings
• Irvings
• Bells
• Carruthers
• Grahams
• Johnstons
• Jardines
• Moffats
• Latimers

Highlands and Isles

• Buchanans
• MacFarlanes, Arrochar
• MacNabs
• Grahams of Menteith
• Stewart of Balquhidder
• [The list goes on to name most of the Highland Clans]

If it was good enough for the Scottish Parliament of 1587, it's good enough for me.

[Sawney Bean]

Were the statistics a one off event or was central government more concerned about the borderers rather than the teuchters?

[blackbeard]

Were the statistics a one off event or was central government more concerned about the borderers rather than the teuchters?

Since the legislation calls out men by name I gather that it was directed at people rather than a region.
The roll call names 21 men of the borders and 105 highlanders.

The full text can be found here
http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1587/7/23

[Sawney Bean]

Thanks for the link, interesting reading.