Scottish Tribes of the 1600s
For centuries, tribes dominated Scotland and ruled by family ascension. This included the 1600s, when Britain attempted to assimilate Scotland. Efforts to break the Gaelic traditions and clan ties ultimately failed. Today, many proud Scots can trace their ancestors to these historic tribes.
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Highland
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The highlanders are amond the most prominent of the Scottish tribes. The originators of the tartan and the bagpipes, the highland tribes encompassed a vast number of families and clans. The prefix "Mac," which means meaning "son of" as a way to identify family ties, comes from the highlands. Highland tribes included MacDonald, Fraser, MacGregor, MacCleod, Gordon, Stewart and Campbell. Highland tribes were successful in part due to the rich land and resources at their disposal.
Lowland
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The lowland areas were home to numerous invasions as well as inter-tribal wars. The land was less difficult to traverse and more suited to farming -- as well as invasion and settlement by the likes of the Romans and Vikings. Prominent lowland tribes included names such as Bruce, Ferguson, Scott, Wallace, Douglas, Kennedy, Duncan and Innes.
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Famous Names
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Lord George Gordon, Patrick Stewart, William Wallace and Robert MacGregor were all from prominent Scottish tribes. These men all battled opression and British control. William Wallace, Patrick Stewart and Lord Gordon were involved in battles for Scottish independence and tried for treason. MacGregor was a highlander famous for starting a blood feud to defend the honor of his village.
Smaller Groups
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Beyond the main tribe, many families allied themselves by both blood ties and loyalties. The Cunningham, Graham, Menzies, Ogilvy, Drummond, Fletcher, Murray and MacPherson families were part of the highland tribal groups. Lowland families included Johnston, Armstrong, Kerr, Elliot and Hay, Baird, MacDuff and Keith.
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References
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