CLANS! Why Did Scotland Have a Clan System? (Clan Origins & Evolution)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มิ.ย. 2024
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CLANS! Why Did Scotland Have a Clan System? (Clan Origins & Evolution)
Why did Scotland have such a distinct clan system and how did it evolve? Furthermore, why is it that Scotland had such a prominent clan system yet England, just over the border, didn’t to any great degree?
The word "clan" itself means family or children in Gaelic, with clan chiefs themselves being almost as powerful as kings in their local area at various points in history. Clans bound people together through a sense of shared identity and ancestry, and this is still seen today, although in a far less formal way. To give us a rough sense of timelines, the clan system seems to emerge around in the 11th or 12th century (or perhaps earlier, but it probably became more formal around this time) and lasts in quite a prominent way until around the 18th century/19th century, with the Battle of Culloden and the Highland Clearances putting the nail in the clan coffin.
The clan system itself in Scotland was like its own little Game of Thrones through the centuries. Clan Chiefs were not that unlike kings at times, acting as the head of the community and making most of the important decisions. Their title was often passed down to a male heir, at least in later centuries. Clan chiefs also used marriages strategically at times, with a clan member marrying outside the clan for politically ends, such as forging an alliance with a neighbouring clan, not unlike how royalty operated down through the centuries. Although many people with the same clan surname were related, it was also common to adopt a surname when land was taken over to show solidarity and ensure protection with the clan.
A nobility emerged around the Clan Chief, with members of the clan essentially paying taxes or some form of duty. People would farm and fight for their clan, and bards would tell stories of their clan and its origins. Clans often claimed descent from either kings or Irish mythology. Clan MacNeil for instance claims to be descended from the legendary High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Conflict and border disputes with rival clans was also very common, often over cattle. Clans were often distinguished by the badges in their bonnets. The MacDonalds wore a sprig of heather, whereas the Macintoshes wore holly.
Now we know a little about the clan system, why did develop in Scotland so notably?
Sources:
Scottish Clans - www.visitscotland.com/things-...
Scottish Clans and Families www.highlandtitles.com/scotti....
Scottish Clans - www.scotland.org/inspiration/...
Scottish clan en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottis...
History Marche - How did the Scottish clan system collapse? • How did the Scottish c...
Clans and Tartans - Clans & tartans : George Way : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Celtic History Decoded - The Scottish Clan System and YOUR Clan Origins: Clan Gibson, Weir, MacMillan, Wallace and More… • The Scottish Clan Syst...
#scotland #clans #history
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:14 The Clan System
2:29 The Appeal
3:20 Clans vs Tribes (Reason 1)
4:33 Reason 2
5:25 Reason 3
7:45 Reason 4
9:04 Not Plain Sailing
9:25 Support
Scottish Clans - Scottish Clan System History - Highland Clans Clan Scotland
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What clan do you belong to? I'm a MacMillan/Campbell
My Blood is from Clan Arias (Anrias) the Son's of Andrew, which greatly expanded into the Great Clan Ross, which Clan Ross is all the Gentry from and assumedly a bit different than Clan Arias by than. The 1st to take on the Surname Ross was the Chief of the Great Clan Ross the 4th Earl of Ross Hugh Ross (survived by his 2nd & 3rd son's bloodlines & . . .) who's Seal can be found 4th on the Declaration of Arbroath. His (Hugh Ross) daughter was Queen Consort of Scotland Euphemia Ross to (who should be considered her capture for him to concrete a Claim of his linage) the 1st Stuart King (who overthrew the Scoti Kings by such), But Euphemia Ross Queen of the Scots was able to leave her 2nd Husband the 1st Stuart King (but not before leaving him with 4 Royal Children the Stuart Dynasty Springs from) and she wrote the Pope to Marry the Laird of the Isles, which the Pope Granted, and they had a Son, the Laird of the Isles the Earl of Ross and we made WAR! Due to such and other things the Surname Ross would become a Protected name within the Kingdoms turned EMPIRE! Quoting; Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas, Volume 1: by Josiah Hazen Shinn; pg 343 "The commonalty of the Ross Family unable to prove its decent by Pedigree were enrolled under the banner of the Clan Mackenzie, but while carrying a new name, after the advent of surnames, really carried Ross Blood".
Long ago ancestors were part of Clan Dunlop.
My mom's mom is Campbell.
@@randyross5630Oh my goodness I had no idea. I knew some of the priests sons of Andrew. Thank you so much for sharing xx
l am descendant Oliphant Clan on maternal father side of the family. We can trace my family back to Robert the Bruce through our 13th great grandfather King James V of Scotland and his mistress Elizabeth Carmicheal
I'm Ron Morrison 76yo Of Clan Morrison, My Fathers father was from Harris, my Dad spoke Gaelic, my mother was a Barton from Glasgow I live in Canada !
Thanks
Ireland had a clan system too although not as feudal as the scottish system.
Not sure what you mean by "feudal," but clans were a big deal in Ireland. When there was a High King, he depended upon the regional kings, who depended upon the clan chiefs. Regicide by clan chiefs did occur. If anything, I think it was more difficult to unite the clan chiefs and petty kings in Ireland than it was in Scotland. Lots of rivalries and enmities there. Hence it was "easy to invade, difficult to conquer." Irelands High KIng was for a long time selected on rotation lest any one clan secure too much power and territory.
@@LonersGuide What you are talking about with the difficulty of the High King uniting factions is most likely what @gallowglass2630 is referring to by the Irish system being "less feudal," ie. Scots system became more centralized through the king, and the inheritance system became increasingly by primogeniture.
In Ireland, tanistry system remained for much, much longer, and rí-tuatha maintained stronger de facto sovereignty, so it was less centralized at the "national level."
I'm Ross, Hunter, Smith, Taylor, walker, Moore, Little, Kerr, and Cochran.
Thanks. Love it
Descending from Campbell, Sinclair, McGregor, Murray, Stuart and many more ....Great video brother
Thank you
Im a direct ancestor (great grandfather times 23 lol) of the first buchanan, Anselan (ive actually traved it back to before roman times). I could give you an in depth history of Clan Buchanan but i dont want to bore you, however I have many different famous ancestors, George Buchanan, tutor of King James VI being one. The clan also supported Robert the Bruce in the 1300's. Im obsessed with scottish history, particularly the time of King James VI and the Scottish witch trials and have studied it extensively, everyone gets fed up listening to me droning on about it 😂
I'm decended from clan Morrison and clan Gordon. There are few others from marriage but these two were the most recent in my line. My maternal grandmother was a Morrison and my paternal g grandmother was a Gordon. I love your channel, thank you for all the work you do.
Thank you
I'm descended from Clan Guthrie on my mother's side. Love your channel, keep up the good work! 🇺🇸🍻🏴
Frasier. is my Maiden name. Now , I have friends in the Caledonian Club in San Francisco, Ca.
My great grandmother was a Lindsay and decended from Clan Lindsay and Clan McDougall
I'm a MacIain of Glencoe but we lived in Shetland until 1963 when our family moved to America; I was 13.
clan Macpherson, use to be part of the clan years ago, might try it again.
I’m of the Macleod clan on my mothers side. Looking to visit the Dunvegan castle soon 🏴
Very good video brother
Thanks
MY FAMILY CLANS ARE CAMPBELL , SCOTT , HUNTER , EDMONDSON, KIDD ,PATTON AND WRIGHT. LOVE YOUR VIDEO SIR !
My mom is a Hamilton…I love their clan tartan pattern so much that I wear a hat and shirt in that pattern…it defines me and makes me proud.
My dad’s surname is Spencer and that’s English Norman I think.
According to what I’ve read..clan Hamilton and the Spencer family ( I assume they weren’t a clan since they were English ) …didn’t like each other very much …and ironically one Hamilton man had murdered a Spencer man in a dispute and had to run for his life…and he went into hiding by pretending to be a lumberjack felling an oak tree ! 🪓🌳lol
They never caught him ! lol
Every clan has a story or legend…so interesting!
New subscriber from Alabama,USA ! 👍🏴🏴🇮🇪🏴🇺🇸
I have a Border Reiver Clan name Armstrong but highlanders mixed in on my mother’s side like MacEntire and Campbells.
My great-grandmother was a Greelish and came to the USA where she married a Norwegian and settled in Wyoming. She claimed called herself ScotsIrish and learned English here in the US. I assume she was Clan Mac Niel
Nice short video on this subject keep it up as always my friend
Thanks man
I am a MacBrayne. This identity was greatly emphasized when I was a child. The name is very uncommon and in some cases the Mac was dropped when people emigrated. The MacBraynes are sometimes considered a very minor sept of MacNaughton but I have more often seen them associated with the MacDonalds. The name appears to have originated on Islay in the late 15th century. This make more sense to me because after my grandparents emigrated to Canada, they retained close ties to the MacDonalds who also came to Vancouver B.C. at the end of the 19th century and my eldest aunt married one. Her husband died when their eldest son was 16. He took it upon himself to help see that his mother and 5 siblings were provided for and assumed a role in the family very like that of a clan chief. His siblings gave him a great deal of respect and it was an interesting dynamic to observe. Visitors to the Hebrides and the Highlands will have seen the name of MacBrayne because, although it is now owned by the Scottish government, the ferry system is still called Caledonian MacBrayne after its founder.
My Scothish ancestors were a mix of highlander and Ulster Scots. Names that are most abundant are McArthur from Islay, Campbell, Glenn, and Blair, with plenty more. I wish I could learn Gaelic.
I'm not an official "member" of any, but descended from Burns, Boyd, MacDonald, Murray, among others. Burns has been a confounding one concerning its origins. I have a lot of "cousins" from the Scottish Borders, but my Y-DNA now seems to point directly to the O'Bjorn/O'Beirnes "Burns" of Roscommon, Connacht, Ireland. So at least Boyd, MacDonald, and Murray among others.
O'Brien clan of Thomond; my family comes from County Clare originally.
Wallace, Campbell, Sinclair, Lamont, Huntly and Aberdeen Districts, Gordon, Grant, MacDonald of Isles, and MacGregor are my family Clans.
Clan Chisholm, traced to Canonbie & Langholm in Dumfriesshire in the early to mid 1700s. This particular branch were also married into Scott, Elliot & Armstrong Clans.
Grandmothers maiden name was Ramsay. First generation American. Her father was born in Glasgow.
My late mother's maiden name was Ross.❤️
Clan: MacLean. Sept: MacRankine. From AyrShire over to Derry, Antrim County, Ulster. Then to Pennsylvania in 1673 and westward across America
I'm David McKinney, Clans are Stewart, Douglas, MacKinnon, Campbell, MacDowell.
With the Clearances, the Clan system was immigrated to North America and Australia. I can only speak on the US, but here, the clan system remained, although modified from the 18th century right up to the current time. Primarily in the Southeast, where family and kin are generally still located within a short drive. Two Scottish cultures evolved completely independent of each other, one in post Culloden Scotland, and the other in colonial America. Aye, Donald/Kincaid
A Scottish descendant and a railroad employee named a little town near Huntington, WV Culloden. Just an FYI.
McInnes, anglicised from Mac Aengus (sons of Angus).
I Eric Monroe, descendant of clan monro.Been doing my History on my dads side. Has been interested after my dad gave me a 5 page packet of every munro from Prince Ocaan
I'm still investigating but by looking at the map you showed, it would appear like the Leslie clan, however my grandmother on my fathers side came from Scotland and her last name was Goldie. I know her family was settled near Aberdeenshire.
Interesting, thanks
The Mackenzie clan, my grandmas father immigrated to Canada from Scotland. William McKinnon Mackenzie I have his bible dated 1925 rosshire Scotland
If you don’t have it. You should do the difference between Highland and lowland clans and how we consider lol and clans as clans nowadays, lol Anders did not necessarily view themselves as clans.
Finally, I’ve been scouring the Internet, trying to find some explanation of how Highland clan is different from a tribe.
I`m part of the Irish Tuath McAuliffe mate
I have traced my Scottish family back to the mid 1600's. To number 17 different family names.
The name McIntosh appears in 1691; 1770; 1826 & 1855.
Clan Gordon. Living in Canada. My Great Grandfather was from Aberdeen.
I'm decended from Ross in Scotland, there is also Sinclair and Munro in my family tree.
Clan Kirkpatrick here!
I am a descendant of numerous Clans. Clans, Mckay, Mccleod, Wallace, Stuart, Campbell, and Buchanon. And I just research around the 1500's to the 1600 hundreds. I have no idea how many others. As you can see many of my ancestors married out of their clans. Names were Black-eyed (Idh) Mckay and his wife Helen Mccleod, Sir John Wallace, James the V, Archibald Campbell and wife Mary Jane Stewart, and Buchanon. I have seen paperwork that shows the family line going back to Kenneth Mcalpin. I am also supposedly a descendant of Ragnar. Since Kenneth was a Gale and a Pic, and Ragnar was Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, I am likely related to many more clans.
I'm a Crosier Clan ancestor (border rievers). French mercenaries that came over in 1500's. Relatives with names like Noseless Clemmy and Wild Will.
Although very English I can claim a tiny connection to Murray of Athol. Oddly my son ended up wearing the tartan for his marriage to a Scottish lassie.
Two of my grandparents way back when, were Rev. John Knox and Lady Margaret Stewart. So I’m not entirely sure which clan I could claim affiliation with…???
Clan Holm, obviously Holmes being one of the various versions of the clan name including Holm, Holmes, Hulm, and Hume. I'm also related to clan Graham and the O Sullivan's of Ireland (not sure if the O Sullivan's count as a clan) amongst potential others. I've had a lot of fun researching my family's history and the ties to both Ireland, Scotland, and Canada. Although i may not actually be related to clan holm at least generically as I was quite shocked to see in my genetic results as the Holmes were and old English family and I have little Anglo ancestors most of my ancestors are either Gaelic or Britons its a mystery I have yet to solve.
Fascinating, thank you
Your distant family then lol. My father is Holmes traced all the way back to home/hume
very interesting! are scots aware of their clan?
Interesting question. Most Scots have some idea of their name origin, if its connected to a clan. Though it really varies how much they are interested in their clan history and where it might have originated. The majority of Scots live in cities like Glasgow or Edinburgh now. Their ancestors probably moved to the cities, generations ago. So their contact with the areas their clans originated from are often lost. To be honest of lot of Scots dont spend too much time thinking about what clans they might have originated from. They just take it for granted they are Scottish and their ancestors were too. They re sure of their identity. But dont really know a great deal of the history nor care. Theyre too busy getting on with their lives.
As I said this can vary. Some Scots have a greater knowledge of their clan history. Quite often the ones who claim they are descended from the lairds or clan chiefs. It seems people from US, Canada, Australia etc are often more knowledgeable or interested than Scots themselves.
@@TheEggmaniac thanks a lot for the information!
I would say so to some degree
I'm related through marriage to Clans MacIntyre and MacLeod; my maternal grandmother's sister-in-law was descended from the aforementioned clans
I'm also macleod/Nicholson
Found out my great great great grandmother came from the Nicholson/macleod clan I'll be wearing the tartan colors at the highland games in Alma Michigan....
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell (my mother is a Campbell). My dads family is a Storey. So a mixture of Scottish Highlands, and a Border Reiver. :)
clan Donnachie here. Went from Roberson to Robertson to Robinson.
Surly the boarder Armstrong family are not, by the definition given in this video, a clan.
Hi do you have any information and videos on Clan Matheson their history and link with Clan Massie ? Hope to hear from you Emily
Stuart of Bute Clan….Sharpe family, now from Canada
Any references to English clans I can research more?
I'm descended from clan crozier
I'm also a distant cousin of the former NZ rugby captain Richie McCaw
Hi there my Family Name is Gibson and i think we belong to the Buchanans. Thx for your vid mate 😊
Thanks mate
Clan Campbell here.
Maclean/Ross
Clan Macfarlane (We were Millar before we were Miller.)
McDonald, McAllister, Buchanan is my ancestors.
Mcfarlane here...🙌🙌🙌
Scottish culture comes from two sources - the Gaelic clan system comes from Ireland and its gaels who branched out over to "Scotland" (land of the Irish as the Romans knew it). Scotland's other branch of cultural identity stems from Scandinavia.
Clan MacLean from Jura !
Long live Scotland...
long live Clan MacLean !
I have been looking - my mother's name McGugin, there are McClure as well. Haven't been able to connect McGugin with a clan, any ideas?
Caldwell and Newlands are my family names
So, a Crichton is my ancestor and my DNA tells me I'm 27% Scotish. I know there is a village called Crichton south of Edinburgh. Also part of the name is from the Old English tūn 'farm, settlement', and part could be from Gaelic crioch 'border'or Cumbric craig 'rock'. There is also 14th century Crichton Castle begun by John de Crichton. I'd like to know was there a Crichton clan?
Assuming you are a man, your Y-DNA should help sort it out. As for the clans, some clan members and subfamilies took did take surnames from particular place names, paternal ancestors, trades, offices, and such. These families were known to be "septs" of the larger clan, even if they weren't necessarily descended from the clan's namesake patriarch. Hope that helps.
There is a lowland Crichton clan I believe. Also previously spelt Creighton, Kreitton or other variations. Who had lands outside of Edinburgh or in the south west of Scotland. The name Sir Thurstan de Crechtune is mentioned in charters concerning the construction the Abby of Holyrood House, in Edinburgh, in 1128.
Campbell, MacGregor Buchanan
I learned recently that I’m a descendant of Clan Irvine on my dad’s side.
Clan Mackintosh and Chattan
I'm from Clan Cameron
Muir, Gordon, Campbell, Gordon, Leslie, MacLean and Cameron
Sept Beggs, clan Drummond
My family tree shows I'm a decendant of clan Sutherland.
Clan Baird and Clan Bruce here. I live in Texas USA
Hi from Scotland :)
@@celtichistorydecoded Howdy Howdy. I’ve been to Scotland several times. My brother was stationed in Thurso and married a local woman. My nephew and two nieces still live there after their dad’s death. Because their father and mother have died, (they’re adults now) when there’s something special going on with them or one of their kids, I jump on a plane and go back to my roots in Scotland. I’ve been to Italy several times as well, my mom’s family came from Sicily. I’m a first generation American on moms side and second generation on my dads side
Can you talk about the Kellie, The bruce, Robert the Bruce and the clan he belong to. And McDonald’s and McQueens and their story
Campbell-Wallace-Ferguson-Beal
My ancestors are clan home/hume . Im american but its fascinating i did my dna and geneology. All them men in my family are holmes but originally home
I must be from clan Morgan that is my family surname.
Also Clan Hay
Mother was a McKenzie Father was a Morrison arrived in Canada 1904
Kirkland on fathers side snd Guthrie on my mothers side
Please correct me if I’m wrong as I am Scottish by ancestry not by nationality and cultural experience. But it seems like the clan system is less pavilion in Scotland among native born Scott’s unless cared for by nativeborn Scott’s then it seems to be the diaspora globally.
Clan mackintosh but its gunn and mackay on my mothers side.
McIntire.... my question is isn't this an Irish spelling of McIntyre ?
my fellow clan members just simply swear that it's always been spelled with an i and not a y.
for having the nicest do you have any thoughts on this ?
It's always wrote McIntyre in Scotland I would say if this helps
Anderson
Clan Drummond here, Gang Warily 🇺🇸🏴✊
I'm descended from Clan Donald.
MacNicol/MacNeacail are the original clan of Lewis and Skye. MacLeods were/are vikings.
Clan MacArthur 😊
I’m a descendant of the fifth cadzow of Scotland : James Hamilton-so, I’m a part of clan
Hamilton.
And my maiden name is Hamilton- but I grew up in a California beach town- not Scotland!
2:30 is there a reason why so many of you jump over or outright totally omit Clan Lachlan/MacLachlan? Why mention McNeil and not Lachlan? I find this mostly with Scotland, a lot less in Ireland but still happens with the MacLochlainn/McLaughlin/McLoughlin.
Henderson
Clan Kerr and Clan Currie are from both sides of my family.
Armstrong and Marr clans
Im connected to clan Boyle on my mums side of the family
We in dreams behold.
Robertson.
Is it true that the lowland clans werent really classed as clans? I see many commemts saying inly highlanders had the true clans. My surname is Hunter which i can see is a clan but the name is not a highlander name?
Thanks. Lowland clans were still clans yes, like the border reiver clans for instance - Armstrong etc.
@@celtichistorydecoded Thanks for replying! I am doing a bit of research on behalf of my dad who is a Hunter and also has the name Davidson as his middle name, which is connected to the family line somehow, and was also the middle name of his Scottish grandfather. We're English though, not Scottish. I have read many things that says lowland Scots weren't truly clans or Scottish so was just curious.
@@Rebmulrooneyward Thanks Beccah. Interesting, I would say they are as much as any other clans but I'm sure there are different arguments out there. Best of luck with the research.
what about the Irish clan system?