Towards a List of Clans and Families in Scotland—Identity Politics, Cultural Appropriation and Romantic Idealism
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17825254 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bruce Durie (0000-0003-1692-6345, University of Aberdeen, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 44-44 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-14 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Genealogy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2313-5778 • E-ISSN: 2313-5778 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/genealogy10020044 |
| OpenAlex | W7154361859 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 3 |
The question of which Scottish surnames constitute a Clan and which do not is hotly contested. It is wrongly felt, especially in the Scots-abroad communities, that Clan is somehow of higher status than “Family” or “House” and/or applies to everyone of Scottish heritage. Opinions and assertions are on a spectrum between two absolutes: (a) “everyone in Scotland is in a Clan, and everyone should wear kilts and tartans”; to (b) “Clans disappeared in the 18th century and there is no point clinging to a Romantic notion with no modern relevance”. Historically, the Clan is a phenomenon of the Gaelic-speaking Highlands and Islands and was not found as a social structure in the Lowlands; the Southern Uplands (Scottish Borders) are a special case. The “everyone” persuasion leads to cultural nonsenses such as Lowland-ancestry Scots abroad forming “Clan” Societies and adopting Highland dress. Scots overseas are looking for an authoritative statement as to whether their surname constitutes a Clan, a family, or some other nomenclature. Yet, there is no official or agreed historically based list of who are Clans and who are not. There is no such list—or a formula by which an answer can be derived. This essay is intended as a step towards that. Also, the non-historical concept of “Septs” is dismissed
Appropriation · Clan · Kinship · Phenomenon · Romance · Scots · Tribalism · Historical Studies of British Isles · Political Systems and Governance · Scottish History and National Identity
| Highly cited | No |
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