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 Scotland,
the land of tradition and culture is also home to a successful clan
system, which keeps the country rooted to its customs and values. Clan
has been associated with Scotland since its past and continues to be a
vital ingredient of its heritage. This age-old system of family
groupings has given many Scots their surname and symbolizes the pride of
the family. These communities remains a part of the Scottish society,
giving this glorifying land more meaning.
Looking into the history
of Scotland we can find that, the
clan system emerged way back in 11th century. Scotland was unified,
when the clan system eventually came, the clan dominated the remote
areas which where far from the centers of Scottish life and government.
Galloway and the Borders was first to be part of the clan system.
Clan originated from the
Gaelic clann, meaning children or descendants, every clan had a clan
chief who was responsible for the clan and its affairs. Clan was not
based on caste system, clansmen were not blood relations. They were
people who used to live in the area and looked up to the clan chief for
their protection. Clan was so much important for the people of the clan
that, they were even ready to die for their clan, country use to come
second for them and clan remained the first priority.
At that time Scotland
also witnessed many battles among the different clans for capturing more
land for as the clan expanded. Chief of the clan acted like the king and
leader for the clan with rest of the clan members supporting him, the
son of the clan chief use to be appointed as cadet, who use to keep in
touch with the people of the clan and help to run the territory.
There are many clans in
Scotland many of which still exists while some have been restricted to
keeps up history books, the 'Fraser', originally descended from France
and settled in the Borders before they settled in
Aberdeenshire. Clan always remained a vital part of Scotland and its
culture and society highlighting the age old civic culture of the
countries which still remains a prominent feature which Scotland holds.
Role of Tartans :
Tartans has been
associated with Scotland since a long time, all Scottish clans do have
more than one tartan linked with their surnames. The chief possessed the
power to make a clan's tartan official, the tartan use to differentiate
the various clans apart from the highland tartan which remains purely
regional and the weavers use to prepare in different colour and pattern.
The list of some of
the clans in Scotland :
Campbells
Descended from Britons
MacLeods Were from Viking Blood
Camerons Anglo - Normans
MacLeans - Moray
Galbraiths Ancient Briton
Macphersons - Scottish Highlands
Gunns - Orkney Island
Frasers Inverness
Campbell clan - Argyll
Though the clan system
has gradually declined in Scotland, still it has a prominent place in
the history and culture of Scotland.
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