Clan
Surnames
Many
people with Gaelic origin surnames are interested in researching their clan
connections. This is cannot be done by simply assuming one’s last name is also
a clan surname. Many Gaelic surnames are
not
clan surnames and do not relate to historical
clans. They are surnames created from
Gaelic patronymic naming customs. Many
Gaelic surnames did not develop a fixed form until very late, circa 1500s into
the 1600s. Even then the use of clan
surnames was not universal and was often a form only found on legal documents
written by government officials, rather than the surname a family actually used
in their community. Clan surnames were
used more by older sons of landed families. In some cases families related to a
historical clan via marriage, via legal contracts such a manrents (military
obligations to a lord), tacsmen (land managers) or just allies, would take the
surname of the clan to which they were associated. The best way to research one’s clan
connections is through Y chromosome DNA testing (Y-DNA) and a study of the
history of a district that the family originated.
Y Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) testing usually provides a
kinship group of families that share the same paternal kinship. Often the non-surname matches are as
important as the surname matches when confirming clan connections. In the primary sources often a group of
surnames are associated with one clan or sept that will fit this kinship group
of families.
If you have tested your Y-DNA at the 67 or 111 and a
definite kinship group has appeared the surnames in the group usually give data
relevant to past clan connections. A
good first step is to have research done on the etymology and history of those
particular surnames. Sometimes this
alone reveals a family past clan connections.
For example, the common Ulster and west Highland surname of
Campbell. This surname is usually anglicised
form of Caimbeul from the well-known Argyll family. But some Campbell families have a kinship
group that includes the surname Caulfield, which is an anglicised form of the
name Mac Cathmhaoil, a county Tyrone Irish Gaelic family. This family used both
Caulfield and Campbell as anglicised forms of their surname. Another example is the surname McDonald/McDonnell,
that is from the Gaelic name Mac Dónaill. The surname books will inevitably
link the anglicised form to the great Clann Dhónaill; in fact, many clans had
branches named Mac Dónaill, in both Ireland and Scotland.
If one of your research goals is to explore your
clan connections and you have reached a brick wall with your paternal kinship
group matches it might be of help to have an expert look at the group and to an
analysis of them. This involves an etymology
study of the surnames in the group and a history of the surnames along with
geographic connections to the group and an examination of any primary
sources. It is complex work often
working with Gaelic language sources, but can provide insight into a family’s
clan connections.
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