The Formation of the Clans in Scotland
If we commence looking in the time of the raiding of the Norse Vikings along the northern coast of Scotland – Caithness and Sutherland, and Western Outer and Inner Hebrides islands; at that time, the villagers were not united. They did not commence to merge until Sommerled provided his leadership. During the time of Somerled, he led his supporters to clearing the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and the Inner Hebrides of the Norse raiders; and leaders of the local communities became identified.
During the period of the Kingdom of the Lord of the Isles, a Council was formed with representatives from the various community groups. The Council included a (Thane) or chief representing the MacNeils of Barra and a (Thane) or chief representing the McNeills of Gigha. Recent studies of the Clan MacNeil DNA Ancestry project have shown that the DNA of the Barra families differs from that of the Gigha families determining that they each have a
different ancestry.
The earliest records show evidence of a clan in north east
Scotland in 1128 AD. However, we need to look at the meaning of the Scottish word “clan” which has a technical meaning of “kindred” or children. The Kindred or family of the clan was not restricted to the family descendants of the chief but to other families who lived in the area who sought the protection of the chief of the leading family and pledged their support to him.
With the Clan formation, there comes the Clan System
which is the government stage.