ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 886 http://www.s-gabriel.org/886 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* 9 Apr 1998 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for the 16th century form of the Scottish name , and for surnames associated with Clan MacLachlann. You also asked about heraldic arms appropriate for these surnames. Here is what we have found. In your period, there were clans in the Scottish Highlands, but they were very different from modern Scottish clans. In particular, the system of septs and surnames associated with specific clans is a modern invention. It did not exist in period. In fact, the Gaelic-speaking Highlands of your period did not use surnames at all; they used patronymics, which identify people are their father's children. (Some clan chieftains and their immediate families used clan names as surname, but these were people of high rank, not suitable as models for Society personas.) Clan membership was not indicated in a person's name, as it is today. It would not have been possible in period Scotland to identify a group of men as clan-mates simply by examining their names. is a fine name for your period. It would have been understood to mean "Lachlann, son of Lachlann", not "Lachlann, member of clan MacLachlann". (The additional in is required by Gaelic grammar. It makes the name possessive, like <'s> in English.) The name is pronounced \LAHKH-lahn mahk LAHKH-lahn\ [3]. The \KH\ is the hard, rasping sound in Scottish or German . and are non-Gaelic spellings of Gaelic names. derives from the Gaelic \mahk OAN\, meaning "son of Eoin". was a Gaelic form of . is actually a given name, \GIL-yeh KHREEST\. It became a modern surname in several steps. First, it was used in the patronymic "son of Gille Chriost". Then it was adopted into English or Scots as something similar to , and later simplified to [3, 4]. (Scots is a language very different from Gaelic which was spoken in the Lowlands in your period. It was similar to contemporary English.) If you'd like some more information on Gaelic names from your period, you may want to read some articles on our web site. The first is a general introduction to Scottish naming in our period; the second a more specific look at forming Gaelic bynames. Scottish Names 101 http://www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/scot_names_101.html Quick and Easy Gaelic Bynames http://www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/quick_gaelic_bynames.html Scottish clan heraldry is another feature of the modern clan system which did not exist in our period. Heraldry was rarely used in the Highlands. It was quite common in the Lowlands, but even there arms were used by individuals, not shared by entire clans. Many of the modern clan badges and arms originated in our period, but at that time they were considered the personal property of the clan chieftains, not common property. We don't know any heraldry that is particularly associated with Clan Maclachlann in period. In the Highlands, very few people used heraldry at all. Of course, lots of Societyfolk use arms even though their personas would not have done so. We've written a short article on that dilemma, which you can find on the web: What Do I Use for Arms if my Persona Wouldn't Have Used Arms? http://www.itd.umich.edu/~ximenez/s.gabriel/faq/nonheraldic.html If you do choose to design arms for your persona, it would probably be best to choose arms that were likely to have been used in 16th century Scotland, even though they would probably not have been used in the Highlands. Chevrons were very common in Lowland heraldry, but blue-on-green is a very unlikely combination. As a general rule, light-colored charges (white/silver or yellow/gold) are placed on dark backgrounds (blue, black, red, green). A blue or green chevron on a silver or gold field would be an excellent starting point. If you add three of some charge around the chevron (two above, one below), you'll have arms that would have been very typical of the Lowlands in your period. Finally, for your information: You wrote that you want your clan to re-create the period when great kilts were worn. The first clear evidence of the belted plaid is in 1594, when a writer commented that the Scottish Gaels involved in a particular military campaign were wearing their plaids belted. [1, 2, 5]. I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Zenobia Naphtali, Talan Gwynek, and Effrick neyn Kenyeoch. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Krossa, Sharon L., "Scottish Men's Clothing" (WWW: privately published, 26 October 1996) http://www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/scot_men_clothing.html [2] Simon ffraser, posting to rec.org.sca, 26 Feb 1998 [3] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990). [4] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986). [5] O/ Clerigh, Lughaidh, _Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Ui/ Dhomhnaill -- Life of Hugh Roe O'Donnell_ ed. Paul Walsh (Irish Texts Society, 1948). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -