"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[Monkey@Arms]

The Scotsman, since you have neglected to introduce yourself to this forum, it is perhaps a little difficult to get a sense of where you are coming from, so to speak, on this topic.

I think there are two problem with your continued use of the word "entitlement" in this discussion. The first is it contains the inference that one who does not bear the last name associated with a particular tartan has no business owning that kilt. As you have stated yourself, that is a Victorian myth. While no one is suggesting that a person who feels strong association with a given clan tartan shouldn't follow the convention of wearing that tartan to the exclusion of all other (if that is what they wish), that does not mean a person who does not share that view is not "entitled" to wear the tartan pattern of their choosing.

Which brings us to the second problem. Again, as has already been pointed out in this thread, one's surname may have little to do with actual historical clan ties, as only genealogical research can tell for sure. So if one truly held the belief that only members of a clan are "entitled" to wear that tartan, it would not follow that a person whose last name is, for example, MacDonald, is "entitled" to wear that clan's tartan, as one would need to know whether the namesake Donald was a member of that clan.

Best regards,

Jake