How many Scottish clans are there? (2024)

FAQs

How many Scottish clans are there? ›

Some sources estimate that there are over 1,000 different clan names associated with Scotland, while others suggest that there are closer to 200 distinct clans. One of the most widely recognized sources of information on Scottish clans is the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, which lists around 140 distinct clans.

Number one is Clan Campbell of Breadalbane. The feud between the MacGregors and the Campbells is well documented but Sir Malcolm said this strand of the Campbells was particularly feared given its dominance over a large swathe of Scotland - and its will to defend it at all cost.

Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans, being descended from the Norse Jarls of Orkney and the Pictish Mormaers of Caithness.

Clan MacKenzie is one of Scotland's largest and most influential clans, with a history that dates back to the medieval period. The MacKenzies were powerful landowners who held extensive territories in the northwest of Scotland, and they played a major role in the country's politics and military affairs.

Traditionally, membership in a Scottish clan was based on shared ancestry and surname. Members of a Scottish clan often shared a common ancestor, and they traced their ancestry back to that ancestor using genealogical records.

Many clans continue to exist today in Scotland and around the world. Clan surnames have spread beyond Scotland's borders and there are various events whereby members get together to celebrate their heritage.

Why was the surname MacGregor banned? The MacGregor clan faced a turbulent period in their history during the early 17th century. Following their involvement in various feuds and conflicts, including clashes with rival clans and political upheavals, the surname MacGregor was officially proscribed in 1603.

The MacLarens were a warlike clan with strong ties to the Stewarts of Appin. The Clan fought at Flodden in 1513, and suffered severely at Culloden with the Jacobites, on the side of Bonnie Prince Charlie, in 1746.

The border clans known as Reivers were noted for being ruthless as they were involved in constant warfare. So, not necessarily in rank order, I would include in the top ten MacDonald, MacLeod, MacGregor (my clan via my mother), Campbell, Armstrong, Douglas, Stewart, Cameron, MacKenzie and Graham.

There appears to have been a particularly nasty feud between the MacLeods and the MacDonalds that spawned a chain of bloody events in the late 16th century.

How do I know what clan I am in Scotland? ›

How do you belong to a clan today? Today, anyone of the chief's surname, or variants of that name, is automatically considered to be a member of their clan. Online resources like our Clan Finder can help you identify such connections from your own surname.

clans have no formal place in Scots law, although chiefs do, to some extent; tartans, although in some cases ancient, did not have the one-to-one relationship to surnames as is now affirmed, until the early 19th Century.

Clan MacWee: The Smallest Clan in Scotland.

In Scotland, a clan is still a legally recognised group with an official clan chief. The official clans of Scotland are registered by the Court of the Lord Lyon. There are currently around 267 official clans in Scotland.

Thus, by the eighteenth century the myth had arisen that the whole clan was descended from one ancestor, perhaps relying on Scottish Gaelic clann originally having a primary sense of 'children' or 'offspring'. About 30% of Scottish families are attached to a clan.

Clan Donald is still the largest clan in Scotland and the descendants of thousands of MacDonalds who emigrated also make it the largest in the world.

While the Scottish clan system may exist no longer, it's undeniable that Scots and those of Scottish heritage across the world continue to look upon Scotland as the treasured land of their people. You can see a list of Scottish clans, with and without clan chiefs, on the Wikipedia page.

This can be done by consulting historical records, books, and websites that specialise in Scottish genealogy. You can also consider joining a Scottish heritage organization, such as the Clan Society, which can provide information and support to help you discover your clan.