A Swan in Search of his "True" Clan

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I was going to say the same thing as Rathdown; it's not really fair to claim an 8 to 1 ratio for the clan Gunn, when the name MacQueen itself means "son of Sven/Sweyn." Just because the person who happened to type out the Gunn sept list listed more variations of the name than the person compiling the MacQueen sept list doesn't mean much one way or the other.

Unlike Rathdown, however, all the Swans and Swansons I know seem to have joined up with Clan Gunn!

Despite what the Lord Lyon's web site says, it's really not that uncommon to find the same surname listed among more than one clan. The name Allen (which is my mother's maiden name) is listed among clans MacKay, MacFarlane, Grant, and MacDonald of Clanranald -- however my Allens are actually English! It just reflects the reality that there may be multiple origins for the same surname; that families moved around, and often changed clan allegiances as a result; and that historically what clan you belonged to had little to do with your surname anyway.

I hazard to say that most people who consider themselves part of "Clan X" don't really have 100% proof positive that they descend from that clan. They do the best they can with the information they have.

[Cygnus]

I hazard to say that most people who consider themselves part of "Clan X" don't really have 100% proof positive that they descend from that clan. They do the best they can with the information they have.

I understand that - I think the thing that is frustrating to me is that all I really have is my surname and the knowledge my ancestors came from Scotland. Some of my family members have Clan Gunn memorabilia because they walked into some touristy shop and were told by the person behind the counter that Swan is a sept of Clan Gunn so that is their clan. My personal feeling is that most little shops like that don't carry badges, ties, or kilts for less common clans, so it makes economic sense to tell potential customers that they're part of clan X when it really could be Y or Z as well.
Maybe it's because of that that I tend to lean more toward the MacQueen clan.

I've read a few articles that discuss the dubiousness of the Swan(son) connection to Clan Gunn. Since the Patriarch of Clan Gunn was Sweyn it would make sense for the Gunns to be a sept of the Swan clan or to be a separate clan altogether. Additionally, there's no historical reference to Swans within Clan Gun until the late 17th century, so it makes me wonder about the connection through Sweyn and Gunni.

So, that's what I have - a surname, some research, and an inclination toward the MacQueens. I will continue to try and determine where my family lived prior to their move to Edinburgh and, if the search continues to prove fruitless, I will probably go with Clan MacQueen.

Thank you, everyone, for humoring me and putting up with my insane (or inane?) desire for certainty!

[Cygnus]

Some of my family members have Clan Gunn memorabilia because they walked into some touristy shop and were told by the person behind the counter that Swan is a sept of Clan Gunn so that is their clan. My personal feeling is that most little shops like that don't carry badges, ties, or kilts for less common clans, so it makes economic sense to tell potential customers that they're part of clan X when it really could be Y or Z as well.

In reading this again it occurred to me that, since I was replying to Matt, some might think I was referring to the Scottish Tartan Museum when I mention "touristy shops" - and I want to set the record straight. Such is the reputation of the STM that I never even considered the thought that anybody could categorize it as a "touristy" shop. From all I've seen and heard, it is a truly first-rate establishment and I apologize if I gave anyone the impression that it was anything but that.