The clan system which arose in Scotland around the 11th century was a complex society. The clan family was headed by a Chief. While many of the clansmen were likely to be blood relations others might be tenants of the clan lands; smaller families or clans (septs) would put themselves under the protection of the larger clan. A "sept" moved into a region or moved out of a region and changed allegiances. As a result some "septs" are allied with more than one clan family. The clan system was based on the economics of the times and functioned, for better or worse, much like a family business.

The word clan is from the Gaelic and means "children." Originally each clan was made up of the descendants of one man and his children. The clan names which are in use today have come down from the founds of the royal dynasties of the Picts, the Scots and the Vikings in the Highlands as well as the noble families of the Britons, Flemish, Normans, Angles, and Saxons in the Lowlands and Borders.

These royal dynasties are the ancestors of the Scots. Our family tree grew horizontally as well as vertically. While the king, queen, or heir apparent of a dynastic family was often married "across the water" to someone of comparable royal rank and the heir to a noble title was married "across country" to ensure peace or secure property, their other children generally married locally. The surname of the dynastic family spread slowly, but through intermarriage gradually everyone in the region was absorbed.It is this brotherhood, beyond rank, sex, religion, success, or failure, which links the Scots together. We are all one interrelated family; the branches of the family are the family names, clan, and septs. As a result, all bearers of Scottish names share in the rich pageantry and experiences of our common ancestors.

Today clan family societies are generally formed for educational, literary, social, or beneficial purposes, to further friendships and share the heritage of the clan family to collect and preserve it's relics and, in the case some larger societies, to assist in the maintenance and acquisition of former clan territories in Scotland. Visit the clan area and meet your family.