Scotish Clan?

[allisonmanor]

I am wondering how you determine what Scotish Clan you are from. It would appear that my ancestors came from the area around Ayrshire with links to Clay Holes and Beith. The family name is ALLISON. What Scotish Clan can I lay claim to - if any. Leo ALLISON, Lilydale, Vic, AUS

[Ann In the UK]

Hi,

A quick google suggests Clan Allison is a sept (an offshoot) of clan MacAlister, which in turn is a sept of Clan Donald

According to Electirc Scotland, for example,

In 1296 Patrick Alisonne of Berwick served under King Edward I of England. It is said that the name comes from the MacAlisters of Loup, some of whom escaped to Avondale, Lanarkshire, during the Scottish War of Independance in the 14th centuary, and may later have changed their name to Alison.

http://www.electricscotland.com/webclan ... lison.html

http://www.scotclans.com/scottish_clans ... story.html

Might be worth having a little google about yourself for further information and links to various clan organisations



Regards
Ann

[allisonmanor]

Thanks Ann for your reply. I had been told that we were of the MacAlister Clan but could never work it out as to why. My own research has not been clear enough as to how it your Clan was determined. I have viewed maps of clans and have viewed (previously) your recommended websites but I was just trying to find out "what determined the Clanning grouping" So from what you saying, it is purely by Surname associaltion and not by location.
At least I now know that I was on the right track. Thanks a million.. Leo

[Rockford]

Hi Leo,

Someone with better knowledge than me will probably be along shortly, but in the meantime.....

The original clans did have a historical base in times gone by and some were specific to one or two areas - an example being the Macleods of Skye and Lewis. I've seen 'clan maps' that have others listed in detail (such as this one http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/clanmap.htm ).

Although it's now possible to link more or less any Scottish name to a clan or sept of a clan this (and it might be heresy to say it) perhaps has more to do with the origins of the name and the ability to sell tartan, rather than any genealogical lineage - for example, half of my family are called Smith, which apparently has links to the MacPherson clan, but I would expect that the genes are pretty thin now.

I seem to remember reading that the resurgence of tartan, Highland dress and all things Scottish came about in the early 1800s when Sir Walter Scott had a role in King William IV's tour of Scotland (wearing tartan/plaid having been banned after the defeat of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' at Culloden in 1746) and many tartans were rediscovered/invented at that point. Queen Victoria continued the love affair with Scotland we've been associated with the images of tartan and shortbread ever since

My own 'clan' tartan is Maclachlan, although whenever a kilt is required I duck the issue and wear Ben Lomond, which isn't name specific as I wouldn't want to offend any of my branches....

Best wishes

Brian

[allisonmanor]

G'day to you, Brian
Thanks for the info, from what I have been finding out down here in OZ, it certainly is a mine field to try and locate the correct clan, one person of "authority" even suggested that the Allison's could belong to the Grant, McDonald, McFarlane and even the McPherson Clan's with out any mention of the Mcalister's, so looks like I have opened up a nice can of worms. Cheers, Leo

[Hibee]

Hi Leo

Brian has pretty much told it like it is. I would add that Ayrshire does not fall within the area occupied by "Clans", but rather by lowland families.

If I were to look up my own surname on a "Find Your Tartan" list, I would note that the Adam(s) were a sept of the Clan Gordon, from the Aberdeenshire area. But my ancestors would get a nose bleed if they ever ventured north of the Firth of Forth.

Hibee

[Falkyrn]

Modern Clans and tartans owe much to the Georgian and then Victorian interest in Scotland. The Clan system was basically wiped out following Culloden, not by the battle itself as some Clans fought against the Jacobites, but by the crackdown and harsh legislation that followed. These laws were only lifted after some 40+ years of repression.

Clan chiefs were basically war lords holding their lands by strength of arms as their strength and influence grew families living on those lands became part of or adopted that clan for their own protection if the Clan's influence waned those same families would move to another Clan without actually leaving their lands. Modern Clan maps defining set areas to certain Clans while having some historical basis are largely again a Victorian creation.

Clans vs Families - although today we think of Clans as being a Highland term and Families a Lowland one in early legal documentaion the two words were interchangeable.