Clans of Scotland, Scottish History & Culture

Clans of Scotland

Scottish clans gives a form of Scottish identity and is known in Scots and by people from all over the world, it has a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms whom controls the heraldry and Coat of arms. Each clan has its own tartan patterns, and those identifying with the clan can wear kilts of the appropriate tartan as a badge of membership and as a uniform where appropriate.

Clans identify with geological areas originally controlled by the Clan Chiefs, usually with a family castle, and clan gatherings form a usual part of the social scene.

"Clann" means family or children in Gaelic. Each clan was a large group of geographically-related people, theoretically a wide-ranging family, supposedly descended from one ancestor, and all owing loyalty to the head clan chief. It also included a large group of loosely-related divisions - related families or outside groups, all of whom looked to the clan chief as their head and for their protection.

The clans materialized from the chaos of the 12th century and 13th century when the Scottish crown pacified northern rebellions and re-conquered areas taken by the Norse. After the fall of Macbeth the crown became increasingly Anglo/Norman. This disorder created opportunities for Celtic, Norse/Gaelic and British warlords with their kin to dominate areas, and the unsteadiness of the Wars of Scottish Independence brought in warlords with Anglo-Norman, Anglian and Flemish ancestry, founding clans such as the Camerons, Frasers, Chisholms, Menzies and Grants.

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