Scottish clans (from Old Gaelic clann, children), give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms. Each clan has its own tartan patterns, usually dating to the 19th century, and members of the clan may wear kilts, skirts, sashes, ties, scarves, or other items of clothing made of the appropriate tartan as a badge of membership and as a uniform where appropriate.

Clans identify with geographical areas originally controlled by the Chiefs, usually with an ancestral castle or manor, and clan gatherings form a regular part of the social scene.

Origins of the clans

The word clann in Gaelic means children of the family. Each clan was a large group of related people, theoretically an extended family, supposedly descended from one progenitor and all owing allegiance to the patriarchal clan chief. It also included a large group of loosely-related septs – related families - all of whom looked to the clan chief as their head and their protector.

Some clans such as Clan Campbell and Clan Donald claim ancient Celtic mythological progenitors mentioned in the Fenian cycle, with a group including Clan MacSween, Clan Lamont, Clan Erinvines, Clan MacEwen, Clan MacLachlan, and MacNeil tracing their ancestry back to the 5th century High King of Ireland. Others such as Clan MacAulay, Clan MacKinnon and Clan MacGregor claim descent from the Scots King Kenneth Mac Alpin who made himself King of the Picts in 843, founding the Kingdom called after the name of the land Alba (modern-day Scotland). The MacDonalds and MacDougalls claim descent from Somerled, the half-Gael/half-Norse-Manx Lord of the Isles in the mid-11th century.

Though the clans had always been a feature of pre-Christian Ireland and Scotland, they first emerged into English consciousness from the turmoil of the 12th and 13th centuries when the Scottish crown pacified northern rebellions and re-conquered areas taken by the Norse, and after the fall of Macbeth when the crown became increasingly Anglo-Norman. This turmoil created opportunities for Norse, Scottish and English warlords and their kin to dominate areas, and the instability of the Wars of Scottish Independence brought in warlords with Anglo-Norman, Anglian and Flemish ancestry, founding clans such as the Camerons, Chisholms, Menzies and Grants.

The Highland clan system

Inheritance and authority

The Scottish Highland clan system incorporated the Celtic/Norse traditions of heritage as well as Norman Feudal society. Chieftains and petty kings under the suzerainty of a High King ruled Gaelic Alba, with all such offices being filled through election by an assembly. Usually the candidate was nominated by the current office holder on the approach of death, and his heir-elect was known as the tanist, from the Gaelic tànaiste, or second, with the system being known as tanistry. This system combined a hereditary element with the consent of those ruled, and while the succession in clans later followed the feudal rule of primogeniture, the concept of authority coming from the clan continued.

Thus the collective heritage of the clan, the duthchas, gave the right to settle the land to which the chiefs and leading gentry provided protection and authority as trustees for the people. This was combined with the complementary concept of oighreachd where the chieftain's authority came from charters granted by the feudal Scottish crown, where individual heritage was warranted. While duthchas held precedence in the medieval period, the balance shifted as lowland Scots law became increasingly important in shaping the structure of clanship.

Legal process

To settle criminal and civil disputes within clans both sides put their case to an arbitration panel drawn from the leading gentry of the clan and presided over by the chief. Similarly, in disputes between clans the chiefs served as procurators (legal agents) for the disputants in their clan and put the case to an arbitration panel of equal numbers of gentry from each clan presided over by a neighbouring chief or landlord. There was no appeal from the decision which awarded reparations, called assythment, to the wronged party and which was recorded in a convenient Royal or Burgh court. This compensation took account of the age, responsibilities and status of the victim as well as the nature of the crime, and once paid precluded any further action for redress against the perpetrator. To speed this process clans made standing provisions for arbitration and regularly contracted bands of friendship between the clans which had the force of law and were recorded in a convenient court.

Social ties

Fosterage and manrent were the most important forms of social bonding in the clans. In fosterage, the chief's children were brought up by favoured members of the leading clan gentry (traditionally the mother's brother or similar, i.e. in another clan), whose children in turn were brought up by other favoured members of the clan (again the mother's brother or the like - i.e. in another clan). This brought about intense ties and reinforced inter-clan cohesion. Manrent was a bond contracted by the heads of families looking to the chief for territorial protection, though not living on the estates of the clan elite. These bonds were reinforced by calps, death duties paid to the chief as a mark of personal allegiance by the family when their head died, usually in the form of their best cow or horse. Although calps were banned by Parliament in 1617, manrent continued covertly to pay for protection.

Less durably, marriage alliances reinforced kinship between clans. These were contracts involving the exchange of livestock, money and rent, tocher for the bride and dowry for the groom.

Clan management

Payments of rents and calps from those living on clan estates and calps alone from families living elsewhere were channelled through tacksmen. These lesser gentry acted as estate managers, allocating the run-rig strips of land, lending seed-corn and tools and arranging droving of cattle to the Lowlands for sale, taking a minor share of the payments made to the clan nobility, the fine. They had the important military role of mobilising the Clan Host, both when required for warfare and more commonly as a large turn out of followers for weddings and funerals, and traditionally in August for hunts which included sports for the followers, the predecessors of the modern Highland games.

From the late 16th century the Scottish Privy Council, recognising the need for co-operation, required clan leaders to provide bonds of surety for the conduct of anyone on their territory and to regularly attend at Edinburgh, encouraging a tendency to become absentee landlords. With an increase in droving, tacksmen acquired the wealth to finance the gentry's debts secured against their estates, hence acquiring the land. By the 1680s this led to the land in ownership largely coinciding with the collective 'dutchas' for the first time. The tacksmen became responsible for the bonds of surety leading to a decline in banditry and feuding.

Disputes and disorder

Where the oighreachd, land owned by the clan elite or fine, did not match the common heritage of the duthchas this led to territorial disputes and warfare. The fine resented their clansmen paying rent to other landlords, while acquisitive clans used disputes to expand their territories, and many clan histories record ferocious long lasting feuding such as the Clan Gordon and the Clan Forbes, which lasted for centuries and caused many deaths in both clans. On the western seaboard clans became involved with the wars of the Irish Gaels against the Tudor English, and a military caste called the buannachan developed, seasonally fighting in Ireland as mercenaries and living off their clans as minor gentry, but this was brought to an end with the Irish Plantations of James VI of Scotland and I of England. During that century law increasingly settled disputes, and the last feud leading to a battle was at Mulroy in Lochaber on August 4 1688.

Reiving had been a rite of passage, the creach where young men took livestock from neighbouring clans. By the 17th century this had declined and most reiving was the spreidh where up to 10 men raided the adjoining Lowlands, the livestock taken usually being recoverable on payment of tascal (information money) and guarantee of no prosecution. Some clans offered the Lowlanders protection against such raids, on terms not dissimilar to blackmail.

Although by the late 17th century disorder declined, reiving persisted with the growth of cateran bands of up to 50 bandits, usually led by a renegade of the gentry, who had thrown off the constraints of the clan system. As well as preying off the clans, caterans acted as mercenaries for Lowland lairds pursuing disputes amongst themselves.

Civil wars and Jacobitism

As the civil wars of the Three Kingdoms broke out in the early 17th century the Covenanters were supported by the territorially ambitious Argyll Campbells and House of Sutherland as well as some clans of the central Highlands opposed to the Royalist House of Huntly. While some clans remained neutral, others led by Montrose supported the Royalist cause, projecting their feudal obligations to clan chiefs onto the Royal House of Stuart, resisting the demands of the Covenanters for commitment and reacting to the ambitions of the larger clans. In the Wars of 1644-47, the most prominent Royalist clan were Clan Donald led by Alasdair MacColla.

With the Restoration of Charles II, Episcopalianism became widespread among clans as it suited the hierarchical clan structure and encouraged obedience to Royal authority, while some other clans were converted by Catholic missions. In 1682 James Duke of York, Charles' brother, instituted the Commission for Pacifying the Highlands which worked in co-operation with the clan chiefs in maintaining order as well as redressing Campbell acquisitiveness, and when he became King James VII he retained popularity with many Highlanders. All these factors contributed to continuing support for the Stuarts when James was deposed by William of Orange in the "Glorious Revolution".

The support among many clans, their remoteness from authority and the ready mobilisation of the clan hosts made the Highlands the starting point for the Jacobite Risings. In Scottish Jacobite ideology the Highlander symbolised patriotic purity as against the corruption of the Union, and as early as 1689 some Lowlanders wore "Highland habit" in the Jacobite army.

Decline of the Clan system

Successive Scottish governments had portrayed the clans as bandits needing occasional military expeditions to keep them in check and extract taxes. As Highlanders became associated with Jacobitism and rebellion the government made repeated efforts to curb the clans, culminating with brutal repression after the battle of Culloden. This followed in 1746 with the Act of Proscription, further measures making restrictions on their ability to bear arms, traditional dress, culture, and even music. The Heritable Jurisdictions Act removed the feudal authority the Clan Chieftains had once enjoyed.

With the failure of Jacobitism the clan chiefs and gentry increasingly became landlords, losing the traditional obligations of clanship. They were incorporated into the British aristocracy, looking to the clan lands mainly to provide them with a suitable income. From around 1725 clansmen had been emigrating to America; both clan gentry looking to re-establish their lifestyle, or as victims of raids on the Hebrides looking for cheap labour. Increasing demand in Britain for cattle and sheep led to higher rents with surplus clan population leaving in the mass migration later known as the Highland Clearances, finally undermining the traditional clan system.

Romantic "revival" of interest

The Ossian poems of James Macpherson in the 1760s suited the Romantic enthusiasm for the "sublime" "primitive" and achieved international success with a disguised elegy for the Jacobite clans, set in the remote past. They were presented as translations of ancient ballads, a fraud caustically dismissed by Dr. Samuel Johnson. This damaged the reputation of the poems, but their artistic merit had widespread influence.

Shortly before or after the Dress Act restricting kilt wearing was repealed in 1782, Highland aristocrats set up Highland Societies in Edinburgh and other centres including London and Aberdeen, landowners' clubs with aims including "Improvements" (which others would later call the Highland Clearances). Clubs like the Celtic Society of Edinburgh included Highland chieftains and Lowlanders taking an interest in the clans. The success of the historical novels of Sir Walter Scott as well as the pomp surrounding the visit of King George IV to Scotland in 1822 spurred 19th century interest in the clans and a reawakening of Scottish culture and pride.

Lowland families

The Lowlands south of the river Forth had been Brythonic Celtic, with the southeast coming under the Angles and Galloway and the western seaboard becoming Norse-Gaelic, then by 1034 the Kingdom of Alba had expanded to bring the all but the last area under Gaelic Celtic rule. From the accession King David I (1124), the traditional social patterns of much of eastern Scotland began to be altered, particularly with the growth of burghs and the settlement of French feudal families on royal demesne lands. This process was of course very slow, but its cumulative effect over many centuries was to undermine the integrity of Gaelic in the areas affected, areas which later became known collectively as the Lowlands, though to a large extent Galloway and Carrick, where Galwegian Gaelic survived into the 17th century, was not affected much as elsewhere until very late.

However, many aristocratic Gaelic clans did in fact survive in form, especially in Galloway (e.g. MacDowall, MacLellan, MacCann ), Carrick (e.g. Kennedy) and Fife (e.g. MacDuff). The term clan was still being used of Lowland families at the end of the 16th century and, while aristocrats may have been increasingly likely to use the word family, the terms remained interchangeable until the 19th century.

By the late 18th century the Lowlands were integrated into the British system, with an uneasy relationship to the Highlanders. The total population of Lowlanders diminished drastically in some parts of the south as a direct result of the Agricultural Revolution. That resulted in the Lowland Clearances, and the subsequent emigration of large numbers of Lowland Scots.

However, with the revival of interest in Gaeldom and the visit of King George IV to Scotland in 1822, there was a new enthusiasm amongst Lowlanders for re-identification with their Gaelic culture. As a result many Lowland families and aristocrats now appear on clan lists with their own tartans, in some cases with a claim to ancestry from the Highland area – encouraged, no doubt, by companies who market supposed coats-of-arms and heraldic devices, manufacturers of tartan cloth, and by the immense growth of Internet genealogical research, beginning in the last few years of the twentieth century. As a result, many of these families now have their own clan societies, websites and annual reunions.

Clan membership, tartans and badges

The article Clans, Families and Septs by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Baronet, Queens Counsel, Rothesay Herald of Arms (i.e., one of the four most senior members of the Lord Lyon's court), states that the terms clan and family are interchangeable, and makes it clear that membership is determined by the chief of the clan or family, who can accept or reject those who offer their allegiance. Historically the clan was those living on the chief's territory, though certain of his immediate family owed him allegiance wherever they lived. With changes in clan boundaries or migration of families the clan could include members with other surnames. A chief could add to his clan by adopting other families, and also had the legal right to outlaw anyone from his clan, including members of his own family. In modern terms a chief can accept whom he wants to, or limit clan membership to those with particular surnames. Those who have the chief's surname are deemed to be clan members, and anyone who offers allegiance to the chief by joining his clan society or wearing his clan tartan is considered a member unless disallowed by the chief, individually or by name group. Many people nowadays wish to claim clan membership on their mother's side, and while Sir Crispin does not mention this situation, there seems to be no reason for them not to offer allegiance to the chief of their mother's clan.

Where clans included groups with other surnames these are often listed as septs, but while the clan or family is a legally recognised group, sept lists have no official authority and merely reflect an estimate of historical associations.

Official Clan tartans are authorised by the chief and registered by the Lord Lyon, but there is no legal prohibition against wearing the "wrong" tartan. Originally there appears to have been little association of tartans with particular clans or areas, but the idea gained currency in the late 18th century and in 1815 the Highland Society of London began the naming and registration of "official" clan tartans, and gradually the original belted plaid was supplanted by the modern tailored kilt. For more information see Tartan and Kilt.

A sign of allegiance to a clan is the wearing of its crest badge. In Scotland only individuals, not clans, possess a heraldic Coats of arms. However, a clansman or woman may wear a badge comprising the clan chief’s crest, encircled with a strap and buckle bearing their chief’s motto or slogan. In principle these badges should only be used with the permission of the clan chief and the Lyon Court has intervened in cases where permission has been withheld.

Clan lists and maps

The revival of interest, and demand for clan ancestry, has led to the production of lists and maps covering the whole of Scotland giving clan names and showing territories, sometimes with the appropriate tartans. While some lists and clan maps confine their area to the Highlands, others also show Lowland clans or families. Territorial areas and allegiances changed over time, and there are also differing decisions on which (smaller) clans and families should be omitted. Some alternative online sources are listed in the External links section below.

This list of Clans contains clans registered with the Lord Lyon Court. The Lord Lyon Court defines a clan or family as a legally recognised group, but does not differentiate between Families and Clans. Clans or families thought to have had a Chief in the past but not currently recognised by the Lord Lyon are listed at Armigerous clans.

Clan	Chief (or Commander if no living chief)	Motto	Background
Agnew	Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, 11th Bt.	Consilio non impetu	Lowland
Anstruther	Ian Anstruther of that Ilk, 8th and 13th Bt.	Periissem ni periissem	Lowland
Arbuthnott	John Campbell Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott	Laus Deo	Lowland
Arthur	John Alexander MacArthur of that Ilk.	Fide et opera	Highland
Bannerman	David Gordon Bannerman of Elsick, 15th Baronet	Pro Patria	Lowland
Barclay	Peter Barclay of Towie Barclay and of that Ilk	Aut agere aut mori	Lowland
Borthwick	John Hugh Borthwick of that Ilk, 24th Lord Borthwick	Qui conducit	Lowland
Boyd	Alastair Ivor Gilbert Boyd, 7th Baron Kilmarnock	Confido	Lowland
Boyle	Patrick Robin Archibald Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow	Dominus providebit	Lowland
Brodie	Alexander Brodie of Brodie	Unite	Lowland
Broun	Sir William Broun of Coultson, Bt.	Floreat majestas	Lowland
Bruce	Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin	Fuimus	Lowland
Buchan	David Buchan of Auchmacoy	Non inferiora secutus	Lowland
Burnett	James Burnett of the Leys	Virescit vulnere virtus	Lowland
Cameron	Col. Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel	Aonaibh ri cheile	Highland
Campbell	Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll	Ne obliviscaris	Highland
Carmichael	Richard Carmichael of Carmichael	Tout jour prest	Lowland
Carnegie	James George Alexander Bannerman Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife	Dred God	Lowland
Cathcart	Charles Alan Andrew Cathcart, 7th Earl Cathcart	I hope to speed	Lowland
Charteris	Francis David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss and 8th Earl of March	This is our charter	Lowland
Chattan	Malcolm K. MacKintosh of Clan Chattan	Touch not the catt but [without] a glove	Highland
Chisholm	Hamish Chisholm of Chisholm	Feros ferio	Lowland & Highland
Cochrane	Iain Alexander Douglas Blair Cochrane, 15th Earl of Dundonald	Virtute et labore	Lowland
Colquhoun	Ivor Colquhoun of Luss, 8th Bt.	Si je puis	Highland
Colville	John Mark Alexander Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross	Oublier ne puis	Lowland
Cranstoun	David Cranston of that Ilk and Corehouse	Thou shalt want ere I want	Lowland
Crichton	David Maitland Makgill Crichton of that Ilk	God send grace	Lowland
Cumming/Comyn	Sir Alexander Gordon Cumming of Altyre, 7th Bt.	Courage	Lowland
Darroch	Duncan Darroch of Gourock	Be watchfull	Lowland
Davidson	Alister Davidson of Davidston	Sapienter si sincere	Highland
Dewar	Michael Kenneth Dewar of that Ilk and Vogrie	Quid non pro patria	Lowland
Drummond	John Eric Drummond, 18th Earl of Perth	Virtutem coronat honos	Highland
Dunbar	Sir James Dunbar of Mochrum, 14th Bt.	In promptu	Lowland
Dundas	David Dundas of Dundas	Essayez	Lowland
Durie	Andrew Durie of Durie.	Confido	Lowland
Elliot	Margaret Eliott of Redheugh	Fortiter et recte, Soyez sage	Lowland
Elphinstone	The Rt. Hon. Lord Elphinstone	Cause causit	Lowland
Erskine	James Thorne Erskine, 14th Earl of Mar and 16th Earl of Kellie	Je pense plus	Lowland
Farquharson	Alwyne Farquharson of Invercauld	Fide et fortitudine	Highland
Fergusson	Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran, 9th Bt.	Dulcius ex asperis	Lowland
Forbes	Nigel Ivan Forbes, 23rd Lord Forbes	Grace me guide or Gràs mo stiùir	Lowland
Forrester	Ben Forrester.	Blaw, Hunter, Blaw Thy Horn	Lowland
Forsyth	Alister Forsyth of that Ilk	Instaurator ruinae	Lowland
Fraser	Flora Marjory Fraser, Lady Saltoun (21st in line)	All my hope is in God	Lowland & Midland
Fraser of Lovat	Simon Fraser, 18th Lord Lovat	Je suis prest	Highland & Midland
Gayre	Reinold Gayre of Gayre and Nigg	Super astra spero	Highland
Gordon	Granville Charles Gomer Gordon, 13th Marquess of Huntly	Bydand	Midland & Highland
Graham	James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose	Ne oublie	Midland & Highland
Grant	James Patrick Trevor Grant of Grant, 6th Baron Strathspey	Stand fast	Highland
Gregor	Sir Malcolm Gregor MacGregor of MacGregor, 7th Bart., 24th Chief of Clan Gregor	'S rioghal mo dhream	Highland
Grierson	Sir Michael Grierson of Lag, 12th Bt.	Hoc securior	Lowland
Gunn	Iain Alexander Gunn of Banniskirk	Aut pax aut bellum	Highland
Guthrie	Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie	Sto pro veritate	Lowland
Haig	George Alexander Eugene Douglas Haig, 2nd Earl Haig	Tyde what may	Lowland
Haldane	Martin Haldane of Gleneagles	Suffer	Lowland
Hamilton	Angus Douglas Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton	Through	Lowland & Highland
Hannay	David Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk.	Per ardua ad alta	Lowland
Hay	Merlin Sereld Victor Gilbert Moncreiffe, 24th Earl of Erroll	Serva jugum	Lowland
Henderson	Alistair Donald Henderson of Fordell	Sola virtus nobilitat	Lowland
Home	David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home	Nulli Secundus	Lowland
Hope	Sir John Hope of Craighall, Bt.	At spes infracta	Lowland
Hunter	Pauline Hunter of Hunterston	Cursum perficio	Lowland & Highland
Irvine	David Charles Irvine of Drum.	Sub sole sub umbra virens	Lowland
Jardine	Sir Alexander Jardine of Applegarth, 12th Baronet.	Cave adsum	Lowland
Johnstone	Patrick Andrew Wentworth Johnstone of Annandale and of that Ilk, 11th Earl of Annandale and Hartfell	Nunquam non paratus	Lowland
Keith	James William Falconer Keith, 14th Earl of Kintore	Veritas vincit	Highland & Lowland
Kennedy	Archibald Angus Charles Kennedy, 8th Marquess of Ailsa	Avise la fin	Lowland
Kerr	Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian	Sero sed serio	Lowland
Kincaid	Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid	This I'll defend	Highland
Lamont	Peter N. Lamont of that Ilk	Ne parcas nec spernas	Highland
Leask	Anne Leask of Leask.	Virtute cresco	Lowland
Lennox	Edward J. H. Lennox of that Ilk and Woodhead	I'll defend	Lowland
Leslie	James Malcolm David Leslie, 22nd Earl of Rothes	Grip fast	Lowland
Lindsay	Robert Alexander Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford and 12th Earl of Balcarres	Endure fort	Lowland
Lockhart	Angus H. Lockhart of the Lee	Corda serrata pando	Lowland
Lumsden	Patrick Gillem Lumsden of that Ilk and Blanerne	Amor patitur moras	Lowland
Lyon	Michael Fergus Bowes-Lyon, 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne	In Te Domine Speravi	Lowland
MacAlister	William St J. S. MacAlester of Loup & Kennox	Fortiter	Highland
MacBain	James Hughston McBain of McBain	Touch not a catt bot a targe;	Highland
MacCallum	Robin N. L. Malcolm of Poltalloch	In ardua Tendit	Highland
MacDonald	Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Baron Macdonald of Slate	Per mare per terras	Highland
MacDonald of Clan Ranald	Ranald Alexander MacDonald, Captain of Clanranald	My hope is constant in thee	Highland
MacDonald of Keppoch	Ranald Macdonald of Keppoch	Air muir's tir	Highland
MacDonald of Sleat	Sir Ian Bosville MacDonald of Sleat, 17th Bt.	Per mare per terras	Highland
MacDonell of Glengarry	Aeneas Ranald MacDonnel of Glengarry	Creag an Fhitich	Highland
MacDougall	Morag Morley MacDougall of MacDougall	Buaidh no bas	Highland
MacDowall	Fergus D. H. McDowall of Garthland	Vincere vel mori	Highland
MacIntyre	Donald R. MacIntyre of Glenoe	Per ardua	Highland
MacKay	Hugh William Mackay, 14th Lord Reay	Manu forti	Highland
MacKenzie	John Ruaridh Grant MacKenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie	Luceo non uro	Highland
MacKinnon	Anne MacKinnon of MacKinnon	Audentes fortuna juvat	Highland
MacKintosh	John Lachaln Mackintosh of Mackintosh	Touch not the cat bot a glove	Highland
MacLachlan	(Euan Maclachlan of Maclachlan)	Fortis et fidus	Highland
MacLaine of Lochbuie	Lorne MacLaine of Lochbuie	Vincere vel mori	Highland
MacLaren	Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine	Creag an Turie	Highland
MacLea or Livingstone	John Livingstone of Bachuil, Baron of the Bachuil	Cnoc Aingeil	Highland
MacLean	Hon Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart and Morvern, 12th Bt.	Virtue mine honour	Highland
MacLennan	Ruairidh MacLennan of MacLennan	Dum spiro spero	Highland
MacLeod	Hugh Magnus MacLeod of Macleod, 30th Chief of Clan MacLeod	Hold fast	Highland
MacLeod of Lewis	Torquil MacLeod of the Lewes	Hold fast	Highland
MacMillan	George MacMillan of Macmillan and Knap	Miseris succurrere disco	Highland
MacNab	James Charles Macnab of Macnab	Timor omnis abesto (Let fear be far from all)	Highland
MacNaughton	Sir Patrick Macnaghten of Macnaghten and Dundarave, 11th Bt.	I hope in God	Highland
MacNicol	John Macneacail of Macneacail and Scorrabreac	Sgorr-a-bhreac	Highland
MacNeil of Barra	Ian R. MacNeil of Barra	Vincere vel mori	Highland
Macpherson	Sir William Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie	Touch not a cat bot a glove	Highland
MacTavish	Steven Edward Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry	Non oblitus	Highland
MacThomas	Andrew P. C. MacThomas of Finegand	Deo juvante invidiam superabo	Highland
Maitland	Patrick Francis Maitland, 17th Earl of Lauderdale	Consilio et animis	Lowland
Makgill	Ian Arthur Alexander Makgill, 14th Viscount of Oxfuird	Sine fine	Lowland
Malcolm (MacCallum)	Robin N. L. Malcolm of Poltalloch	In ardua Tendit	Highland
Mar	Margaret of Mar, Countess of Mar, 30th in line	Pans Plus	Lowland
Marjoribanks	Andrew George Marjoribanks of that Ilk	Et custos et pugnax	Lowland
Matheson	Fergus John Matheson of Matheson, 7th Barronet.	Fac et spera	Highland
Menzies	David R.S. Menzies of Menzies	Vill God I Zall	Highland
Moffat	Jean Moffat of that Ilk	Spero meliora	Lowland
Moncreiffe	The Hon. Peregrine D.E.M. Moncrieffe of that Ilk	Sur esperance	Highland
Montgomery	Archibald George Montgomerie, 18th Earl of Eglinton and 6th Earl of Winton	Gardez bien	Lowland
Morrison	Iain M. Morrison of Ruchdi	Teaghlach Phabbay	Highland
Munro	Hector W. Munro of Foulis	Dread God	Highland
Murray	John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl	Firth, Fortune, and Fill the Fetters	Highland
Napier	The Rt. Hon. Lord Napier and Ettrick	Sans tache	Lowland
Nesbitt	Mark Nesbitt of that Ilk	I byd it	Lowland
Nicolson	David Henry Arthur Nicolson of that Ilk, 4th Baron Carnock	Generositate	Lowland
Ogilvy	David George Patrick Coke Ogilvy, 8th Earl of Airlie	A fin	Highland
Oliphant	Richard Oliphant of that Ilk	A tout pouvoir	Highland
Primrose	Neil Primrose, 7th Earl of Rosebery	Fide et fiducia	Lowland
Ramsay	James Hubert Ramsay, 17th Earl of Dalhousie	Ora et labora	Lowland
Rattray	Lachlan Rattray of Rattray	Super sidera votum	Highland
Riddell	Sir John Riddell of that Ilk, Bt.	I hope to share	Lowland
Robertson	Gilbert Robertson of Struan	Virtutis gloria merces	Highland
Rollo	David Eric Howard Rollo, 14th Lord Rollo	La fortune passe partout	Lowland
Rose	Anna Elizabeth Guillemard Rose of Kilravock	Constant and true	Highland
Ross	David Campbell Ross of Ross and Balnagowan	Spem successus alit	Highland
Ruthven	Alexander Patrick Greysteil Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie	Deid schaw	Lowland
Sandilands	The Rt. Hon. the Lord Tophichen	Spero Meliora	Lowland
Scott	Richard Walter John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch 12th Duke of Queensberry	Amo	Lowland
Scrymgeour	Alexander Henry Scrymgeour of Dundee, 12th Earl of Dundee	Dissipate	Highland
Sempill	James William Stuart Whitmore Sempill, 21st Lord Sempill	Keep tryst	Lowland
Shaw of Tordarroch	John Shaw of Tordarroch	Fide et fortitudine	Highland
Sinclair	Malcolm Ian Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness	Commit thy work to God	Highland
Skene	Danus Skene of Skene	Virtutis regia merces	Lowland
Spens	Patrick Spens, 4th Baron Spens	Si deus quis contra	Lowland
Stirling	Francis John Stirling of Cader	Gang forward	Lowland
Strange	Timothy Strange of Balcaskie	Dulce quod utile	Lowland
Stewart of Appin	Andrew Francis Stewart of Lorn, Appin and Ardsheal	Quhidder Well Zie	Highland
Stuart of Bute	The Most Hon. the Marquess of Bute	Virescit vulnere virtus	Highland
Sutherland	Elizabeth Millicent, Countess of Sutherland, 24th in line	Sans peur	Highland
Swinton	John Walter Swinton of that Ilk	J'espere	Lowland
Trotter	Alexander Trotter of Mortonhall	In promptu	Lowland
Urquhart	Kenneth Trist Urquhart of Urquhart	Meane weil speak weil and doe weil	Highland
Wallace	Ian Francis Wallace of that Ilk	Pro libertate	Lowland
Wedderburn	Henry David Wedderburn of that Ilk, Lord Scrymgeour, Master of Dundee	Non degener	Lowland
Wemyss	David Wemyss of that Ilk	Je pense	Lowland

See also

• Highland Clearances
• Border country
• History of Scotland
• UK topics
• Mac
• Clan warfare
• Blood Feuds

Sources

• Clans and Tartans - Collins Pocket Reference, George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, Harper Collins, Glasgow 1995 ISBN 0-00-470810-5
• MacBeth, High King of Scotland 1040 - 1057, Peter Beresford Ellis, Blackstaff Press Ltd. 3 Galway Park, Dundonald, Belfast BT16 0AN. 1990, ISBN 0-85640-448-9
• Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, Barnes & Noble Books, New York 1998 ISBN 0-7607-1120-8
• The Official Website of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (replaced myclan.com in 2006)

External links

• Clan Duncan Society
• Scotland Clans Directory:Scottish and Irish Clans and family history sites directory
• Scottish Clans, Names and Septs
• Clans, Families and Septs
• Balnagowan Castle: Use of the Ross badge without permission
• One view of the connections between surnames and kinship - does not take into account recent results from DNA testing
• A History of the links between clans and tartans

Links to alternative lists and maps

• Burke's Scotland — Scottish Clan Map gives a key map linking to maps of areas of Scotland indicating many clans and their areas around the late 16th century, with links to information on the clans listed and a search field for other clans and families. Burke's Peerage & Gentry claims to be The authentic guide to the UK and Ireland's titled and untitled families.
• ScottishRadiance — A Map of the original Location of Scottish Clans provides an overview, including some Lowland clans/families.
• Scottish Clans
• Electric Scotland guide to Scottish and Irish clans, families, tartans and history of the Gaels links to a Map showing the districts of the highland clans of Scotland (confined to the Highland area) and to their list of Official Scottish Clans and Families (with a comment from the Court of the Lord Lyon that "we would not normally use the word "official".).