CHIEFS 3/6

CHIEFS

Chiefs

A Clan Chief is that individual recognized by the ancient Scottish clan to be their leader. In the modern-day world, a clan or family society usually recognizes as its honorary leader an individual who is the Chief of the Name and Arms of a specific surname. However, a Chief of the Name and Arms may not necessarily be a Clan chief. Likewise, a Clan Chief may not be designated a Chief of the Name and Arms.

In Scotland, all coats of arms are granted by the Court of the Lord Lyon. This role was established by the Scottish Parliament in 1592 to manage all heraldry. This was hundreds of years after the clans dominated Scotland. As a government agency, the Court does not involve itself with internal clan affairs and still does not engage in the matters of modern-day societies. However, the Court does determine who has the copyright to a specific heraldic device. The Lord Lyon may also appoint a "commander" when a hereditary chief cannot be identified.

This is a comprehensive list all all known Chiefs of the Name and Arms and Clan Chiefs or Heads of Families as recognized by clan and family societies. About three-quarters of all Chiefs of the Names and Arms are dues-paying members of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (SCSC) which are indicated below.

Haldane

Martin Haldane of Gleneagles

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Recognized by:

Hamilton

Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Hamilton Society

Recognized by:

Hannay

Professor David Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Hannay Society

Recognized by:

Hay

Merlin Sereld Victor Gilbert Moncreiffe, 24th Earl of Erroll

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Hay Society

Recognized by:

Henderson

Alistair Henderson of Fordell

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Henderson Society

Recognized by:

Home

Michael David Alexander Douglas-Home, 16th Earl of Home

YES

SCSC Member:

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Home Association

Recognized by:

Hope

Sir Alexander Archibald Douglas Hope, 19th Baronet

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Hope of Craighall Society

Recognized by:

Hunter

Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterson

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Hunter Scotland

Recognized by:

Innes

Charles Robert George Innes-Ker, 11th Duke of Roxburghe

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Recognized by:

Irvine

Alexander Irvine of Drum, 27th Baron of Drum

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Recognized by:

Irving of Bonshaw

Rupert Irving of Bonshaw

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Irving

Recognized by:

Jardine

Sir William Jardine of Applegirth Bt.

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Jardine Clan Society USA

Recognized by:

Johnstone

Patrick Andrew Wentworth Johnstone of Annandale and of that Ilk, 11th Earl of Annandale and Hartfell

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Johnston/e in America

Recognized by:

Keith

James William Falconer Keith, 14th Earl of Kintore

YES

SCSC Member:

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Keith Society USA

Recognized by:

Kennedy

David Thomas Kennedy, 9th Marquess of Ailsa

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Kennedy Society of North America

Recognized by:

Kerr

Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Kerr Family Association of NA

Recognized by:

Kincaid

Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Kincaid Association International

Recognized by:

Lamont

The Rev. Father Peter Lamont of that Ilk

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Recognized by:

Leask

Dr Jonathan Leask of that Ilk

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Leask USA

Recognized by:

Lennox

Edward Lennox of that Ilk

YES

SCSC Member:

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Lennox

Recognized by:

Leslie

James Malcolm David Leslie, 22nd Earl of Rothes

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Leslie Society International

Recognized by:

Lindsay

Anthony Robert Lindsay, 30th Earl of Crawford and 13th Earl of Balcarres

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan Lindsay Association

Recognized by:

Lockhart

Ranald William Angus Lockhart, 26th Baron of Lee

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

American Clan Lockhart Society

Recognized by:

Lumsden

Gillem Lumsden of that Ilk

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

House of Lumsden

Recognized by:

Lyon

Michael Fergus Bowes-Lyon, 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Recognized by:

MacAlister

William St John Somerville McAlester of Loup and Kennox

YES

SCSC Member:

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan McAlister of America (implied but not stated)

Recognized by:

MacAlpine

Michael T. McAlpin

YES

SCSC Member:

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

House of MacAlpine

Recognized by:

Commander

MacAulay

Joan MacAulay

YES

SCSC Member:

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan MacAulay Association

Recognized by:

McBain

Richard McBain of McBain

YES

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Clan MacBean

Recognized by:

MacDonald of Clanranald

Ranald Alexander MacDonald, Captain of Clanranald

SCSC Member:

YES

Clan Chief or Head of Family:

Recognized by: