The Scottish Clan System and YOUR Clan Origins: Clan Gibson, Weir, MacMillan, Wallace and More…
The Scottish Clan System and YOUR Clan Origins: Clan Gibson, Weir, MacMillan, Wallace and More… The Scottish clan system was a defining feature of political and social organisation in Scotland for centuries, with feuds and warfare between clans was pretty common down through Scottish history. The word “clan” itself means family or children in Gaelic, with clan chiefs themselves being almost as powerful as kings in their local area at various points in history. In my video on the Foreign Origins of Scottish Clans, I asked yourselves to get in the comments below on your clans origins, and today I want to review your clan origins.
The first clan we will look at today is Clan Gibson, but feel free to skip forward to your clan via the chapters below. Clan Gibson: Gibson is thought to be derived from ‘Gib’ or ‘Gibb’, shortened forms of the popular Middle Ages personal name ‘Gilbert,’ with the surname Gibson meaning the ‘son of Gib/Gibb.’ In Scotland, there is a record of a Gibsoun of Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, in the ninth century. One theory suggests that the Gibson’s came from Irish tribes who first settled on Scotland’s western seaboard, particularly Argyll, from about 500 A.D. Gibson is considered to be a sub-branch of Clan Buchanan. Clan Buchanan and their kinsfolk, including the Gibson’s, fought for the cause of Scottish independence at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In England, it took the form of Giselbert which was popularized by the Normans after 1066, composed of the Germanic elements Gisil, meaning “hostage” or “noble youth”, and berht, meaning “bright” or “famous”.
Clan Wallace bears the name of probably the most famous figure in Scottish history, but what are Clan Wallace’s origins. Wallace may come from a corruption of Le Waleis, meaning the Welshman. The name Wallace first appears in the historical record in the 12th century, after Walter Fitz Alan, a baron of Breton origins in France, became the Steward of Scotland under King David I. Although Walter himself was a founder of the Stewart clan, a follower of Walter came north from Oswestry, a town in England near the Welsh border. His name was Richard Wallace.
Clan MacIver: The exact origins of Clan MacIver are not clear, but it thought that MacIver is an anglicisation of a Gaelic name meaning son of Ivarr, and Old Norse name. The MacIver’s are considered septs or branches of larger clans such as the Campbells and Mackenzie’s. Clan Sweeney is an Irish clan of Scottish origins, and they are thought to have moved into Ireland around the 14th century as Gallowglass soldiers, elite groups of Norse-Gael mercenaries who settled in Ireland. The origins of Clan McKinley are a little unclear, but is it associated with County Donegal in Ireland. It is thought to mean the son of Finlay in Scotland, although there does seem to be an association with physicians also.
There are at least 3 possible origins of clan Weir. Firstly, Weir may come from the Norman-French place name of Ver, or Vere, with the de Ver’s settling in Scotland after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
