Family Name and Clan

[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

[BoldHighlander]

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

Very well said Frank

I have no problem with someone wearing a tartan "just because" they like it & have no connection in any way, shape, or form to it.

As for myself (and as I listed in the thread about our "tartans & why") I wear, or desire to wear, only those tartans that I have some connection to, rather it be family or other association (the only exception is Black Watch).
But that's me

p.s. -- glad you survived your accident. I earned my broken wings back in October of '86.

[Don Patrick]

p.s. -- glad you survived your accident. I earned my broken wings back in October of '86.

I've been riding since 1971 - this is my first motorcycle accident. I've been told there are those who have had a motorcycle accident and those who will have have an accident. Hope that doesn't jinx anyone!

[BoldHighlander]

I've been told there are those who have had a motorcycle accident and those who will have have an accident.

That's how it goes (we always used the word "crash" instead of accident).
It comes with the territory, just find a soft spot when it does

[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.

[Don Patrick]

I guess I should lay my cards on the table. Last year, I suggested that because Lady Gray was Queen of England for nine days and since my my grandmother's maiden name was Gray, that might mean, I could legitimately wear the Stewart Tartan. I was shot down very quickly. Apparently her right to be deemed Queen of England was not accepted by all.

Since then through research, I've discovered that the Gaelic form of Gray is MacGashan. MacGashan is a Sept of the Clan Stewart - Stewarts of Atholl. These Stewarts are a branch of the Royal Stewarts.

Any comments?

[Highland Logan]

I guess I should lay my cards on the table. last year, I suggested that because Lady Gray was Queen of Englan for nine days and since my my grandmother's maiden name was Gray, that might mean, I could legitimately wear the Stewart Tartan. I was shot down very quickly. Apparently her right to be deemed Queen of England was not accepted by all.

Since then through research, I've discovered that the Gaelic form of Gray is MacGashan. MacGashan is a Sept of the Clan Stewart - Stewarts of Atholl. These Stearts are a brach of the Royal Stewarts.

Any comments?

Now just because Gray as name would be MacGashan in Gaelic, may not mean that your Gray's come from those Gray's. Gray is also an English name, and people did move around. I don't think that should make much of a difference if you want to wear the Stuart tartan, but if you feel you need the family conection, you should check the geneolgy of your grandmother's name, rather than think a Gray is a Gray.

Frank

[Don Patrick]

Now just because Gray as name would be MacGashan in Gaelic, may not mean that your Gray's come from those Gray's. Gray is also an English name, and people did move around. I don't think that should make much of a difference if you want to wear the Stuart tartan, but if you feel you need the family conection, you should check the geneolgy of your grandmother's name, rather than think a Gray is a Gray.

Frank

Hence my earlier question? Is possession of the family name enough or is it not?

[davedove]

Hence my earlier question? Is possession of the family name enough or is it not?

It all depends on how you want to look at it. Most people won't care at all.

And just because you have the name doesn't mean you were part of the clan. For instance, MacDonald means "Son of Donald", and Donald was probably a pretty common name.

Now, let's assume there is a Donald who is part of clan Campbell. He has a son named Ian. That son would be known as Ian MacDonald of Clan Campbell. He has a son named Angus, who would be known as Angus MacIan of Clan Campbell.

It's not until much later that last names became hereditary.

Matt Newsome wrote a real good article about this but I can't seem to find it right now.

[Macman]

Hence my earlier question? Is possession of the family name enough or is it not?

Another aspect of all this is what you mean by "possession". Does it mean that you "possess" a name if you can find it somewhere in your family tree? Or does it mean that it's your own name? Maybe the word "connection" is a better word in the context of an ancestor's name.
As Highland Logan said, this can be a can of worms. We'll all have different opinions on what we consider "proper" to wear.