Aclan is a group ofpeople united byactual orperceivedkinship[1]anddescent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member orapical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societies'exogamy rules are on a clan basis, where all members of one's own clan, or the clans of both parents or even grandparents, are excluded from marriage asincest.
Clans preceded[citation needed] more centralized forms of community organization and government, and have existed in every country.[citation needed] Members may identify with acoat of arms or other symbol.
The English word "clan" is derived from old English wordclann[1] meaning "children", "offspring", "progeny" or "descendants". According to theOxford English Dictionary, the word "clan" was introduced into English in around 1406, as a descriptive label for the organization of society in Ireland and theScottish Highlands.[2]
None of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic terms for kinship groups is cognate to Englishclan; Scottish Gaelicclann means "children":
In different cultures and situations, a clan usually has different meaning than other kin-based groups, such astribes andbands. Often, the distinguishing factor is that a clan is a smaller, integral part of a largersociety such as atribe,chiefdom, or astate. In some societies, clans may have an official leader such as achief,matriarch orpatriarch; or such leadership role is performed by elders. In others, leadership positions may have to be achieved.
Examples includeIrish,Scottish,Chinese,Korean, andJapanese clans, which exist as distinct social groupings within their respective nations. Note, however, that tribes and bands can also be components of larger societies. The earlyNorse clans, theætter, are often translated as "house" or "line". The Biblicaltribes of Israel were composed of many clans.[4]Arab clans are sub-tribal groups within Arab society. Native American andFirst Nations peoples, often referred to as "tribes", also have clans. For instance,Ojibwa bands are smaller parts of theOjibwa people or tribe inNorth America. The many Native American peoples are distinguished by language and culture, and most have clans and bands as the basic kinship organizations. In some cases tribes recognized each other's clans; for instance, both theChickasaw andChoctaw tribes of the Southeast United States had fox and bear clans, who felt a kinship that reached beyond their respective tribes.
Apart from these different historical traditions of kinship, conceptual confusion arises from colloquial usages of the term. In post-Soviet countries, for example, it is quite common to speak of "clans" in reference to informal networks within the economic and political sphere. This usage reflects the assumption that their members act towards each other in a particularly close and mutually supportive way, approximating the solidarity among kinsmen. Similar usage of the term applies to specific groups of various cultures and nationalities involved in organizedcrime.Polish clans differ from most others as they are a collection offamilies who bear the samecoat of arms, as opposed to claiming a common descent (seePolish heraldry). There are multiple closely related clans in theIndian subcontinent, especiallySouth India.
Romani people have many clans which are calledvitsa in Romani.
Scottish clans are social groupings that have played a pivotal role in the history and culture of Scotland. Unlike some other clans that focus solely on common descent or a shared coat of arms, Scottish clans are unique in their elaborate systems of tartans, insignias, and mottos. Clan culture in Scotland also extends to community events such as clan gatherings and Highland Games. Each clan may have an official leader known as a "Chieftain" or "Chief."
Members of Scottish clans often have a shared interest in preserving their historical and cultural landmarks, as well as the natural environment and wildlife of Scotland. The clan system in Scotland has also been influenced by key historical events like theHighland Clearances and theJacobite uprisings, which have left lasting impacts on clan structures and Scottish diaspora.[5]
