Clansfolk of the Scottish Highland Clans

Coat of Arms: Clan MacIvor

What is a Clan?

Clan = children
Mac = son of

Clan MacIvor = family of the son of Ivor
or
Clan MacDonald = family of son of Donald
or
Clan MacPherson = family of son of Pherson (the parson)
etc.

Clan Structure

Chief = Supreme Leader and Lawgiver
I
I
The Tanist
Nominated by the Chief
Tanistry was a system of succession
by a previously elected member of the Clan or family.
I
I
Commander/Military Leader
I
I
Chieftains
(heads of various branches or Septs of the clan,
always appointed if the Chief were old or infirm)
I
I
Gentlemen
(those who could claim a blood connection with the Chief)
I
I
Clansmen
The greatest in numbers --
In times of peace, the clansmen did the manual work;
in times of war, they fought for their chief

Although this hierarchy was scrupulously observed, there was no feeling of resentment on the part of the Clansmen, whose powers of reflection were limited by their circumstances. They were proud to be connected to their Chief and to each other and the evidence shows they were willing to die for the Clan.

To add to the solidarity of the Clan, the practice of fosterage meant that children (including the Chief's) were exchanged and brought up among different families. Thus the most humble Clansmen felt personally responsible for the children of his chief and vise versa.

From: A British Souvenir Guide (by Pitkin Pictorials Limited)
Information generously provided by Clan MacIvor for this website.

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