CLANS! Why Did Scotland Have a Clan System? (Clan Origins & Evolution)

[@celtichistorydecoded]

What clan do you belong to? I'm a MacMillan/Campbell

[@randyross5630]

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".

[@mamapillow8365]

Long ago ancestors were part of Clan Dunlop.

[@bw6138]

My mom's mom is Campbell.

[@judeross3875]

​@@randyross5630Oh my goodness I had no idea. I knew some of the priests sons of Andrew. Thank you so much for sharing xx

[@jturn103]

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

[@TheSlider535]

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 !

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thanks

[@gallowglass2630]

Ireland had a clan system too although not as feudal as the scottish system.

[@LonersGuide]

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.

[@LibertysetsquareJack]

@@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."

[@kimholcomb6943]

I'm Ross, Hunter, Smith, Taylor, walker, Moore, Little, Kerr, and Cochran.

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thanks. Love it

[@kawh8719]

Thank you for explaining this. I have wondered about this history but the information on it was lacking. You answered the questions I didn't know I had!

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thanks

[@ScottHolland-ww2ih]

Descending from Campbell, Sinclair, McGregor, Murray, Stuart and many more ....Great video brother

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thank you

[@LabhriunnMaciain]

I'm a MacIain of Glencoe but we lived in Shetland until 1963 when our family moved to America; I was 13.

[@OldestLady]

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.

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thank you

[@ProtomanButCallMeBlues]

Okay, I think I get it. While Tribes are typically family groups that run as separate authorities to a central government, the Scottish Clans ran as a component of the Scottish Feudal system.

[@aikidragonpiper71]

I have a Border Reiver Clan name Armstrong but highlanders mixed in on my mother’s side like MacEntire and Campbells.

[@Justanotherwhiteguyyabish]

My grandfather is a MacGregor, and my grandmother is a MacLennan on my mother’s side. My family came over to the US in the early 1800’s on my grandfathers side and the early 1900’s on my grandmothers side

[@redbeardsbirds3747]

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 ! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇺🇸

[@shirleynoble685]

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.

[@janetmackinnon3411]

MacBrayne's used to run the ferries on the West Coast. There is even a rhyme: "The land it is the Lord's And all that it contains-- Except for West Coast piers And they are D. MacBrayne's"

[@journeyoflovelight]

Frasier. is my Maiden name. Now , I have friends in the Caledonian Club in San Francisco, Ca.

[@robertfindley9000]

The original clan Farquharson was clan Finley but they were outlawed by the Canmore line of kings.

[@jchisholm1968]

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.

[@Clans_Dynasties]

Nice short video on this subject keep it up as always my friend

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thanks man

[@leemackay888]

Appreciate your vid brother..manu forti!!!

[@deenasostrom2360]

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

[@LonersGuide]

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.

[@bw6138]

Wallace, Campbell, Sinclair, Lamont, Huntly and Aberdeen Districts, Gordon, Grant, MacDonald of Isles, and MacGregor are my family Clans.

[@zpy-nq7wv]

MY FAMILY CLANS ARE CAMPBELL , SCOTT , HUNTER , EDMONDSON, KIDD ,PATTON AND WRIGHT. LOVE YOUR VIDEO SIR !

[@lauriegunn9636]

Hello. I'm Canadian and have a mostly Scottish background. Gunn's (of course, lol), Sutherland, Fraser, Sinclair--The usual mix of characters 😅. I am related to Sinclairs from Scotland, in Selkirk Manitoba, and on my Native side as well. Some of the HBC workers that were first in the Bay were from Orkney. Blakey (?) Sinclair and his Native wife (lost name), had many children and I'm related to them on that side as well.

[@TheTaotheawakenedone]

Clan: MacLean. Sept: MacRankine. From AyrShire over to Derry, Antrim County, Ulster. Then to Pennsylvania in 1673 and westward across America

[@LibertysetsquareJack]

O'Brien clan of Thomond; my family comes from County Clare originally.

[@sandynewman5533]

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

[@delmarhaynes7006]

A Scottish descendant and a railroad employee named a little town near Huntington, WV Culloden. Just an FYI.

[@grietjieroberts3706]

I always wondered what is the origin of the Roberts family and found out we're originally from the Highlands of Scotland, Good to know I came from a very good nation.L.Roberts

[@Jadyra]

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.

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Interesting, thanks

[@lindafosdick9875]

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.

[@Scar-jg4bn]

I'm descended from Clan Guthrie on my mother's side. Love your channel, keep up the good work! 🇺🇸🍻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@straycat1674]

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.

[@justinrivera1618]

Finally, I’ve been scouring the Internet, trying to find some explanation of how Highland clan is different from a tribe.

[@Alasdair37448]

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.

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Fascinating, thank you

[@lisamichelle8421]

Your distant family then lol. My father is Holmes traced all the way back to home/hume

[@tubbie5913]

Grandmothers maiden name was Ramsay. First generation American. Her father was born in Glasgow.

[@Eric-q4q4z]

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

[@DeRhamme]

I'm David McKinney, Clans are Stewart, Douglas, MacKinnon, Campbell, MacDowell.

[@RussPaite1]

I am mainly part of clan MacLean, specifically the chiefs. I also have ties to the Campbell, MacDonald, and MacKenzie clans. Sir Kenneth MacKenzie and Lady Margaret Elizabeth Stewart are my 16th great-grandparents through their son Colin MacKenzie. Sir Lachlan Maclean, 14th clan chief, was my 15th great grand father.

[@worldwidesolutions5524]

I have ancestry to Kenneth MacKenzie and Margaret Elizabeth Stewart through Agnes MacKenzie, Colin's sister! Very cool.

[@devinthoren910]

I’m of the Macleod clan on my mothers side. Looking to visit the Dunvegan castle soon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Very good video brother

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thanks

[@lorrainegrattan8528]

My late mother's maiden name was Ross.❤️

[@rtoddharris]

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.

[@MikeWhiskyTango]

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.

[@Huntly_Gordon]

Clan Gordon. Living in Canada. My Great Grandfather was from Aberdeen.

[@gordonmcinnes8328]

McInnes, anglicised from Mac Aengus (sons of Angus).

[@djguitarplayer9779]

I'm decended from Ross in Scotland, there is also Sinclair and Munro in my family tree.

[@Marine1Bulldog]

I'm related through marriage to Clans MacIntyre and MacLeod; my maternal grandmother's sister-in-law was descended from the aforementioned clans

[@Dreznik88]

I'm also macleod/Nicholson

[@jeremymiller2757]

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…???

[@facoulac]

very interesting! are scots aware of their clan?

[@TheEggmaniac]

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.

[@facoulac]

@@TheEggmaniac thanks a lot for the information!

[@celtichistorydecoded]

I would say so to some degree

[@johnkelly3886]

Surly the boarder Armstrong family are not, by the definition given in this video, a clan.

[@patriciayohn6136]

My maiden name is Bell, clan Bell N.A., mt Paternal side also has McVey, McLaughlin, Ross and McClarigan

[@mcfamily46951]

clan Macpherson, use to be part of the clan years ago, might try it again.

[@FairnessFobe]

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.

[@abryant78]

My great grandmother was a Lindsay and decended from Clan Lindsay and Clan McDougall

[@danashinteriors7287]

Lindsay here too!

[@justin-qg3xd]

The Mackenzie clan, my grandmas father immigrated to Canada from Scotland. William McKinnon Mackenzie I have his bible dated 1925 rosshire Scotland

[@purple3772]

Hi do you have any information and videos on Clan Matheson their history and link with Clan Massie ? Hope to hear from you Emily

[@larrystorey1964]

Clan Campbell (my mother is a Campbell). My dads family is a Storey. So a mixture of Scottish Highlands, and a Border Reiver. :)

[@juliegale3863]

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.

[@Hillbilly1959]

clan Donnachie here. Went from Roberson to Robertson to Robinson.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I`m part of the Irish Tuath McAuliffe mate

[@willcrosbie8806]

Clan crosbie haven’t found much in the history would love to know more if that would be a video idea for you

[@benbateman2085]

Clan Campbell

[@Cumbrianlad3363]

I'm descended from clan crozier I'm also a distant cousin of the former NZ rugby captain Richie McCaw

[@user-si7ig6ul7l]

Any references to English clans I can research more?

[@roostercotten988]

Buchanan clan but my family has been in North Carolina for hundreds of years now

[@donnapratt7936]

Stuart of Bute Clan….Sharpe family, now from Canada

[@bigancientbirds]

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?

[@LonersGuide]

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.

[@TheEggmaniac]

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.

[@MyFellowUncouthAmericans]

Clan MacDonnell turned Irish Royals of the Dulance Castle

[@kelcritcarroll]

Clan Kirkpatrick here!

[@tavenstrickert9658]

My parts descended from clan MacDuff which after we visited Scotland we learned was a very unpopular thing to be descended from as they are seen as traitors and their castle is in ruins. Still very interesting history. One of my good friends is descended from clan Bruce as well. I'm descended from clam nothing because Jews don't get clans They just historically get the shaft but I guess we have tribes and my grandparents believe were descended from the tribe of Levi although that is definitely not verifiable because how could you possibly know after 2,000 years of diaspora.

[@theresawrightman3097]

My Husband is direct descended of R-FT404070 DNA and Daniel Robertson which was Exiled in 1651 to America and become Daniel Robbins😊

[@scotmclean5124]

Maclean/Ross

[@lesliemaxwell]

I’m a descendent of Clan Maxwell♥️

[@Dreznik88]

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....

[@jantrattner8392]

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?

[@christiamccubbins3251]

Campbell, MacGregor Buchanan

[@delmarhaynes7006]

McDonald, McAllister, Buchanan is my ancestors.

[@roryschoenfeld3831]

Caldwell and Newlands are my family names

[@Me2Lancer]

Clan Campbell here.

[@elohist7632]

Hi there my Family Name is Gibson and i think we belong to the Buchanans. Thx for your vid mate 😊

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Thanks mate

[@LukeSmall-u5m]

My family tree shows I'm a decendant of clan Sutherland.

[@jameslewis4202]

Sept Beggs, clan Drummond

[@MackemdownsouthF.T.M]

Mcfarlane here...🙌🙌🙌

[@andrewmiller2868]

Another Macfarlane here 👍👍.

[@Macca-rb5ok]

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.

[@sjonit1]

And Anglian, Brittonic, Norman, Flemish.

[@greg4673]

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 ?

[@celtichistorydecoded]

It's always wrote McIntyre in Scotland I would say if this helps

[@jeffgroom7052]

I’m from Clan Campbell

[@Kayne-m4t]

My great grand parents imigrated to Australia in the 1800s they are mcgregor.

[@laurenmiller1236]

Clan Macfarlane (We were Millar before we were Miller.)

[@andrewmiller2868]

I'm clan Macfarlane too and I'm a Miller. Interestingly, half of the family from my Grandfather's time were Millar and he and our half are Miller.

[@eion-ch3pn]

Muir, Gordon, Campbell, Gordon, Leslie, MacLean and Cameron

[@CharlesMorrison-m6r]

Mother was a McKenzie Father was a Morrison arrived in Canada 1904

[@MizMissiB]

Clan Baird and Clan Bruce here. I live in Texas USA

[@celtichistorydecoded]

Hi from Scotland :)

[@MizMissiB]

@@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

[@justbear3309]

I believe a long time ago it was o’dunne

[@kathywolf4558]

Campbell-Wallace-Ferguson-Beal

[@ThatOneGuy-zf3hc]

Thomas Cunningham / Clan Cunningham

[@ronjhorton]

Mackay 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@knockercruncher]

I must be from clan Morgan that is my family surname.

[@mrbabyhugh]

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.

[@macmagick6605]

Fortis et Fidus.

[@lisajadoobirsingh4007]

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

[@lisamichelle8421]

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

[@wmrustycox]

Clan MacLean from Jura ! Long live Scotland... long live Clan MacLean !

[@straycat1674]

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.

[@maxwellharris507]

I learned recently that I’m a descendant of Clan Irvine on my dad’s side.