The Scottish Clans Podcast

Episode 22 The Structure of a Clan Pt. 2

In this second part of the series on the structure of a clan, I discuss what the membership of a clan would look like.  Did everyone who rallied to the chief's call bear the same surname?  Were they related to the chief in any way?  Check out this episode to see what I've read on this subject.

Episode 21 The Battle of Melrose, Henry Sinclair, Does a Clan Need a Chief?

This episode is mostly in response to listener engagement and feedback.  Thanks to those of you who have pursued the conversation!  Your comments have been interesting and insightful.  I also added a little storytelling at the end.  Here's to the Border Reivers!

Episode 20 Clan Structure, Pt. 1

This is the first in a series where I discuss how a clan was put together.  This episode focuses on the chief and his retinue, to include: the military commander, the poet/historian, piper/harpist, and the physician.

Episode 19 The Gordon vs. Forbes Feud

This episode doesn't cover the whole length of the feud between these two prominent Scottish kindreds.  Rather, it relates the conflicts that happened in 1572 as related by Alexander MacGregor in "The Feuds of the Clans", published in 1907.  I might add that it seems like MacGregor's account is biased toward the Gordons.  Sorry.  Forbes, do you have any other sources for this time period?  Share them in the comments.

Episode 18 The Last Clan Battle, Altimarlach

When John Campbell of GlenOrchy takes possession of lands in Caithness, the title of Earl of Caithness, and George Sinclair's widow as payment for the debt Sinclair owed him, George Sinclair of Keiss isn't having it.  That's his inheritance and he won't take this intrusion laying down.

Episode 17 Alliances: MacFarlane and MacGregor, Modern Surname Locations

Today we flesh out the histories of the MacFarlane and MacGregor clans in the first of a series on alliances.  These two clans shared more than neighboring territory across Loch Lomond.  They stirred up trouble together and fought through thick and thin.
I also highlight a website that displays the current geographical distribution of surnames within the UK.  Here's the link: named.publicprofiler.org
Here's Michael Newton's website which will give you access to a lot of his fine work on the Highlands and Gaelic history.  I have this link also on the Scottish Clans facebook page: https://virtualgael.wordpress.com/.
The MacFarlane source I used the most can be found here: https://archive.org/stream/historyofclanmac00macf/historyofclanmac00macf_djvu.txt.  I believe from here you can download the pdf.
Here's where you can download the pdf of Dr. MacGregor's PhD thesis.  https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/6887
 
 

Episode 16: Highland Clans and the 1724 General Wade Report

In the service of his king, General Wade spent time in the Highlands, taking notes on aspects of Highland culture that would be militarily relevant.  His report on this experience offers interesting insight into the culture of the clans, such as clan structure and cattle stealing.
https://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/geog/chapter8.htm
named.publicprofiler.org
facebook.com/clansofscotland

Episode 15, Origins of Today's Clans - Some Observations

I've been working on a couple projects surveying the origins of the Scottish clans, as well as those in Ireland.  In doing so, I have seen certain trends that are worth mentioning.  Where do the oldest clans (in a form we would recognize today) come from?  How far do they go back?  Check out this episode to see what I've learned.