SCOTTISH CLANS AND SOCIETIES
Historians believe that the clan system has existed for 1,000 years emerging in the 11th century in Scotland. The word clan comes from the Scottish Gaelic clann, which means kindred. A huge part of the tradition of Scottish festivals and games is the gathering of the Clans. Each Clan has a unique tartan with a pattern that belongs exclusively to them.
Were my ancestors part of a clan?
Visiting the festival is the perfect opportunity to learn whether your surname or that of one of your ancestors is connected with a Scottish clan. Clan hosts can help you learn more about a clan, including their tartans, as well as welcome you into membership should you decide to officially join a clan.
In addition to more than 50 Scottish clans participating, the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games features a number of cultural heritage organizations that can also help you become better acquainted with the history of the Scottish immigrants and Scots-Irish in east Tennessee.
Honored Clan for 2023
Clan MacLeod Society USA
The Clan MacLeod Society USA was founded in 1954 to establish a foundation for charitable, historical, and educational pursuits for clan members in all 50 states, which the Society has divided into 13 regions.
The progenitor of the Clan was Leod, who gained possession of much of the Isle of Skye, including the Cullins, Harris and Lewis in the 13th century. Later tradition claimed that Leod was descended from the Norse Kings of Man. Leod had two sons, or grandsons, Tormod (Norman) and Torcall, (English Torquil) who became progenitors of the MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan, and the MacLeods of the Lewes.
Dunvegan was acquired by marriage to the MacRailt heiress and became the principal seat of the Clan MacLeod where their Castle was built. Alasdair Crotach MacLeod built the Fairy Tower, and the Fairy Flag is still the most celebrated relic at Dunvegan Castle. The flag was given to a MacLeod by the fairies and had the power to summon up a magic host in time of need. It was twice used in defeating the MacDonalds.
The MacCrimmons, hereditary pipers at Dunvegan, were preeminent pipers and conducted one of the best known “piping colleges” in the Highlands of Scotland. At a highland festival in each of its 13 regions, Clan MacLeod Society USA awards the MacCrimmon Quaich (a traditional Scottish drinking vessel) to the winner of the grade I amateur Piobaireachd piping competition.
Clan MacLeod Society USA supports Scottish heritage and education through its Dunvegan Foundation, which awards grants and scholarship programs to deserving entities. In 2022, those awards totaled more than $44,000.
2022 Clans
Clan Donald USA
Clan Anderson
Clan Bell North America
Clan Buchanan Society, Int.
House of Burnett
Clan Campbell
Clan Cameron – Grandfather Mtn. Branch
Clan Carruthers; Clan Carruthers
Clan Cochrane
Clan Crawford
Clan Davidson Society of NA
Clan Donnachaidh Society of the Mid South
Clan Douglas Society of NA
Clan Farquharson USA
Clan Fergusson Society of NA
Clan Forrester Society
Clan Fraser
Clan Galbraith Society
House of Gordon
Clan Graham
American Clan Gregor Society
Clan Grant Society – USA
Clan Gunn Society of North America
Clan Hay
Clan Irwin Association
Clan Johnston/e in America
Clan Keith Society USA, Inc
Kennedy Society of North America
Clan Kincaid
Clan Lamont Society
Clan Logan Society International
Clan MacAlister Society
Clan MacAulay; Clan MacAulay
Clan MacDuff
International Clan MacFarlane Society
Clan Mackintosh of North America
Clan MacKay USA
Clan MacKinnon
Clan MacLaren Society of NA
Clan MacLellan
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacNachtan Assoc Worldwide
Clan MacNicol Society of North America
Clan MacPherson
Clan MacRae Society of NA
Clan MonCreiffe
Clan Montgomery
Clan Rose Society of America
Clan Ross
Clan Skene Association
Clan Stewart Society of America
Clan Thompson
Clan Wallace
Clan Young Society -USA
