Clan
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A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship[1] and
Clans preceded[citation needed] more centralized forms of community organization and government, and have existed in every country.[citation needed] Members may identify with a coat of arms or other symbol.
Etymology
The English word "clan" is derived from old Irish clann[1] meaning "children", "offspring", "progeny" or "descendants"; it is not from the word for "family" or "clan" in either Irish[2][3] or Scottish Gaelic. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "clan" was introduced into English in around 1425, as a descriptive label for the organization of society in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.[4]
None of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic terms for kinship groups is cognate to English clan; Scottish Gaelic clann means "children":
- fine [ˈfʲɪnʲə] means (English) "clan"
- teaghlach means "family" in the sense of the nuclear family, or can include more distant relatives living in the same house
- líon tí means either "family" in the sense of "household", or everyone who lives in the house, including non-relatives
- muintir means "family" in the broad sense of "kinsfolk"[3]
Clans as political units
In different cultures and situations, a clan usually has different meaning than other kin-based groups, such as tribes and bands. Often, the distinguishing factor is that a clan is a smaller, integral part of a larger society such as a tribe, chiefdom, or a state. In some societies, clans may have an official leader such as a chief, matriarch or patriarch; or such leadership role is performed by elders. In others, leadership positions may have to be achieved.
Examples include
Apart from these different historical traditions of kinship, conceptual confusion arises from colloquial usages of the term. In post-
Romani people have many clans which are called vitsa in Romani.
Scottish Clans
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 the Highland Clearances and the Jacobite uprisings, which have left lasting impacts on clan structures and Scottish diaspora.[6]
Clannism
Clannism (in Somali culture, qabiilism)[7] is a system of society based on clan affiliation.[8]
The
Clans by continent or region
Africa | |
Americas |
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Asia |
Bon-gwan (Korean names ),family name )Kazakh ,names ),Mongolian , |
South Asia |
Bania ,Bhuiyar ,Dhangar (Gadariya) ,Jat ,Chowdary , |
Middle East |
Parthian , |
Eurasiaa |
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Europe |
Irish and Scottish septs ,Irish and Scottish Chiefs of the Name ,Polish ,Albanian ,Montenegrin , |
Oceania |
|
a Meaning the transcontinental area between Asia and Europe.
See also
- Clan (video gaming)
- Endogamy
- Extended family
- Uradel
References
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 419–421.
- ^ Dineen, Patrick S. (1927). Foclóir Gaeďilge agus Béarla [Dictionary of Irish and English]. Dublin and Cork, Ireland: The Educational Company of Ireland.
- ^ ISBN 1-85791-037-0.
- ^ "Clan". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ See, for example, 1 Chronicles 4 and Numbers 26 in the Old Testament.
- ^ "The Unique Features and History of Scottish Clans". CLAN.com. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ISBN 9781912234776.
- ^ Banana, Canaan (1996). The church in the struggle for Zimbabwe. p. 41.
- ISBN 978-3-319-06001-9.
- ^ Warah, Rasna (2014). Selected Themes in African Political Studies: Political Conflict and Stability. p. 45.