Scotland holds a lot of mystery for me. This is one of the ways in which I am trying to unravel it. I belong to three Clans, two are middle class and one is noble. Rank is by the number of colors on your kilt. I have never seen just one and I doubt that it exists. Two means lower class, 3 means middle class, four means nobility, and five means royalty.

The Cameron Clan

Motto: "Unite"
Badge: A sheaf of five arrows
Tartan: There are three Cameron tartans in general use One of the clan Tartans, the Cameron of Lochiel, has a red background but lacks the yellow stripe used in the green and red general Cameron tartan. The third is the Erracht or Cameron Highlanders' tartan, devised by its founder's mother, as a blend of the Macdonald and Cameron tartans. The Cameron clan has a large number of septs.

Septs of the Clan: Chalmers, Kennedy, MacChlerich, MacChlery, MacGillonie, Macildowie, MacKail, Maclerie, MacMartin, MacOnie, MacOurlic, MacPhail, MacSorley, MacUlric, Macvail, MacWalrick, Martin, Paul, Sorley, Taylor.

More History
Highland Camerons have long been associated with Lochaber and are said to have derived their surname from the "Cam-shron" or "wry-nose" of an early chief who was claimed to be the younger son of the King of Denmark. The first recorded chief was Donald Dubh in 1411 and from him the clan take the chiefly patronymic "MacDhomnuill Duibh", son of Black Donald. The Cameron clan consisted of three main branches: the MacMartins of Letterfinlay, the MacGillonies of Strone and the MacSorleys of Glen Nevis. The main branch appears to have been the MacMartins and through intermarriage with the MacGillonies, the Camerons of Lochiel gained their lands in Lochaber and latterly the chiefship which they still hold to this day. The present chief being Colonel Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel. During the early days of the clan system the Camerons were followers of the Lords of the Isles and fought at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. From the early 17th century the clan were loyal supporters of the Royalist cause for which in 1746, as a result of their continued support for Prince Charles Edward Stewart, their lands were forfeited. Their famous chief of that time, the Gentle Lochiel died a hero in exile after having both his ankles shattered by grape shot at Culloden. The lands were subsequently restored and in 1793 a cadet of the Lochiel branch Cameron of Erracht, raised the 79th Cameron Highlanders, famed for their bravery in battle.

The Clan Tartan


The Dress Tartan


The Hunting Tartan
Gordon

At the height of their power, the Gordons ruled virtually an independant kingdom in the north east of Scotland. They were famed for their championship of catholicism and their mastery of horse-breeding. According to early records, the family was French in origin. Adam de Gordon was with King Louis IX of France in the Crusades in 1270. Under Robert the Bruce, Sir A dam, Lord of Gordon acquired the Lordship of Strathbogie in Banffshire. His great-great grandaughter married Sir Alexan der Seton and their son was created 1st Earl of Huntly in 1449. For the next century, the Gordons held autocratic sway over the Highlands and filled many positions of power in Scotland. The 4th Earl known as "Cock of the North" had aspirations to marry one of his sons to Mary, Queen of Scots and through a series of misunderstandings there was a rebellion which brought about the collapse of Gordon power after defeat at Corrichie in 1562. The 5th Earl also rebelled against James VI in 1594 and much of Hun tly castle was destroyed. Three years later the 5th Earl succeeded in making peace with his monarch and became Marquis of Huntly. His son, George served Charles I staunchly during the Wars of the Covenant and the famous Gordon cavalry provided vital support to Montrose's ragged infantry. A few weeks after the execution of Charles I, Huntly was also beheaded. The Restoration revived t he Gordon fortunes with the creation of the Earldon of Aboyne in 1660. Although the Gordons followed the Jacobite cause throughout the 1700's they suffered relatively mild reprisals when the rising was put down. In 1794, the 4th Duchess of Gordon raised and recruited the 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders which earned immortality by their famous charge at Waterloo and would later take part in many battles through the centuries.
One holder of famous name GORDON played important role in the Czech history. He fought in war conflict known as Thirty Years War as a colonel of Emperor Ferdinand II. of Habsburg. GORDON’s commandant was Czech aristocrat, Generalissimus Duke Albrecht of Valdstejn (Waldstein, Wallenstein). Valdstejn was very able but cruel man with lack of scruple. Emperor let him be killed for his betrayal. Col. GORDON was one of the anti-Valdstejn conspirators. The next ones were: Col. Butler, Col. Leslie, Cpt. Mac Daniel and Cpt. Walter Deveroux (this Irish soldier stabed Valdstejn). Valdstejn was assassined at night 25 Feb 1634 , in the town of Cheb (German name of this town was Eger).


The Clan Tartan


The Dress Tartan
MacDonald



Motto: Per mare per terras - "By sea and by land"
Badge: A clenched, armoured hand holding a cross
Tartan: There are 14 different MacDonald tartans. The red-and-green design is the comprehensive one. The Lord of the Isles hunting tartan is unlike any other, yet is recognizable as a MacDonald tartan

Clan Donald USA Clan Donald, Central Pacific Regio Septs of the Clan: Beath, Beaton, Bethune, Bowie, Colson, Connall, Connell, Darroch, Donald, Donaldson, Donillson, Donnelson, Drain, Galbraith, Gilbride, Gorrie, Gowan, Gowrie, Hawthorn, Hewison, Houstoun, Howison, Hughson, Hutcheonson, Hutchinson, Hutchison, Isles, Kellie, Kelly, Kinnell, Mac a' Challies, MacBeth, MacBeath, MacBheath, MacBride, MacCaishe, MacCall, MacCash, MacCeallaich, MacCodrum, MacColl, MacConnell, MacCook, MacCooish, MacCrain, MacCuag, MacCuish, MacCuitein, MacCutcheon, MacDaniell, Macdrain, MacEachern, MacElfrish, MacElheran, MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGoun, MacGowan, MacGown, MacHugh, MacHutchen, MacHutcheon, MacIan, Macilreach, Macilriach, Macilleriach, Macilrevie, Macilvride, Macilwraith, MacKean, MacKellachie, MacKellaig, MacKelloch, MacKiggan, MacKinnell, MacLairish, MacLardie, MacLardy, MacLarty, MacLaverty, MacLeverty, MacMurchie, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, MacO'Shannaig, MacQuistan, MacQuisten, MacRaith, MacRorie, MacRory, MacRuer, MacRurie, MacShannachan, MacSorley, MacSporran, MacSwan, MacWhannell, Martin, May, Murchie, Murchison, Murdoch, Murdoson, O'Drain, O'May, O'Shannachan, O'Shaig, O'Shannaig, Purcell, Revie, Reoch, Riach, Rorison, Shannon, Sorley, Sporran, Train, Whannel. Clan MacDonald of Clanranald: Allan, Allanson, Currie, MacAllan, MacBurie, MacEachin, MacGeachie, MacGeachin, MacIssac, MacKeachan, Mackechnie, MacKeochan, MacKessock, MacKichan, MacKissock, MacMurrich, MacVarish, MacVurrich, MacVurie. Clan MacDonald of Ardnamurchan: Johnson, Kean, Keene. Clan MacDonald of Glencoe: Henderson, Johnson, Kean, Keene, MacHenry, MacIan, MacKean.

Extended History: The history was extremely long but if you come from one of these septs you might be interested. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3


The Clan Tartan
Courtasy of the Electric Scotland web sight