Questions

[IdahoScotsman]

HI, I have several questions I like to ask. The first question: I'm trying to find the Gaelic version of the Collie name. The second question: My stepGrandfather my dads stepdad is a Massey the name is a sept of the Matheson Clan May I wear the Matheson Tartan? third question: I have heard from several family members that we the Collies split from a bigger clan is there any truth to that? Thankyou very Much if any one can answer any of my questions. IdahoScotsman

[Polwarth]

A stepgrandfather would be a dubious link to a surname! No blood relationship is involved and normally affiliation passes through bloodlines. However, adoptions (formal and informal) have a tradition in Scotland over the centuries, and as the 'rules' as such are non-enforcable - if you like the tartan, wear it!

The name Collie appears to have no clan affiliation that I can find - it does not appear to be claimed as sept by any major clan (that is not to say this is true - just that I can find no connection!) However, not every Scottish surname was part of the clan system, particularly names in the lowlands.

I found one mention of the surname Collie, which said it was first recorded in Aberdeenshire in the thirteenth century. There are 'district tartans' which people from a specific area wear if they have no clan affiliation. This might be worthwhile investigating.

Collier is a name which is similar, and is claimed as sept by Clan Robertson.

I'm afraid I don't have the Gaelic, so I can't tell you whether there is a specific Gaelic word for 'Collie' - it may just be a specific word for 'dog' as our sheepdogs are known as collie dogs I'll leave that one for a Gaelic speaker to confirm!

[IdahoScotsman]

Polwarth, Thankyou for your answering my questions. I will look deeper in my quest on doing my genealogy on my dads side of the family. Thankyou again IdahoScotsman