Our Chief, Dr Peter Carruthers of Holmains and our Convenor, Dr George Carruthers walking up Birrens Hill.
Our current trend in posts is an attempt to highlight the general and historical effect of our Chief’s inauguration and to allay any myths or misunderstanding on the recognition that this event will give our family.
The ceremony whereby Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers, fully accepts his role on our ancestral lands and in front of members of the family, is the pinnacle of nearly 20 years of hard work and effort.
Appreciating the term clans were originally of highland (Gaelic) construct and the term families used to describe certain lowland or border groups, but was that always the case.
It is interesting to note that at least within the Scottish legal system going back as far as the 1500’s and before, the name ‘clan‘ and ‘family‘ were used interchangeably with any real distinction only coming to the fore during the Victorian Era (1837-1901)
In fact in the family tome; ‘The Records of the Carruthers Family’ published in 1934 by A Stanley Carruthers and R C Reid, from accumulated and robust research carried out around the end of the Victorian era, on page 38 the comment is written ‘The Carruthers Clan lived within Annandale and were chiefly located at Mouswald and Holmains and other adjacent places‘. Elsewhere the term family is used interchangeably which shows that even within our own family and by those doing research, both collective terms were used.
The Role of a Chief
Firstly, for those who are unaware, not all Scottish surnames can have a chief, nor follow the recognition that comes with that office. As such Carruthers are blessed in our right to have one. With the confirmation of our Chief in 2019, followed by his inauguration in August 2024, in Annan, Dumfriesshire, just how important is the role to us all?.
The truth of the matter is, it is the Chief that brings recognition to the clan/family, not the other way around. A clan/family with a confirmed chief has legal recognition in Scotland in the same way that any other legally registered group retains their corporate identity. It is recognised that through the Chief, Carruthers has become a ‘Noble Incorporation’ thus being raised from their existance simply as a name group or club into the legal entity of being an officially identified Scottish clan/family, joining sucj names as the Scotts, the Bruce, Mclean, Elliots etc, a great achievement
The importance of the chiefs role in the name of Carruthers cannot therefore be underestimated, whether through his lineage and ancestry going back in history nor into the present time.
This piece taken from the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, on which our Chief holds a hereditary seat, offers an explanation and perception on the role of Chiefs, Clans and Families. It is augmented by the guidance notes from the Lord Lyon here who offers information and guidance on the succession of Chiefs of Clans and Families.
Carruthers Farm, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
‘Clann’ has the literal meaning of “children” but also the generic meaning of a Gaelic kindred group, with a common surname and common ancestor, stemming principally from the highlands and western isles.
Several misconceptions have arisen in recent years. As interest in Scotland grows, so does romance. There is much genuine romance about Scotland, especially surrounding the clans. The last major flourish was at the height of the Victorian era. Today, again, there is a yearning to be seen as part of a clan. But the reality, as distinct from fiction, is that there are, and always were, more names, name-groups and families than clans. Not all Scottish names, however distinguished, are clan names. The Bruces, for example, one of the most resonant names in Scottish history, are a family not a clan. (it is the Chief’s right to define their collective term either clan, family or both ed.)
A chief is the recognised head of a clan or of a family, being in right of the undifferenced arms of the name as recorded by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. In cases where a clan or family has no recognised chief, the term “armigerous clan” has sometimes been adopted or, rather, created. This is mistaken. Since a clan is not a legal corporate body to whom Arms can be granted, a clan cannot itself be described as “armigerous”.
The growing assumption that every person recognized as a chief means that they must have a clan, though neat, is a false friend. A chief can as well be head of a family – highland, lowland (north or south) or borders – as head of a clan. And to deny that there is as much pride in bearing the name of a distinct family, or House, as of a clan is misplaced. The now fashionable pursuit of trying to turn any Scottish name into a clan risks devaluing all. It undermines and fails to respect the distinctions that run through Scottish history; and in the end, seeks to replace that history through “clan creation”. False history: false romance. Much of this may be driven by commercial considerations; though not all. To use the famous caveat, itself from the world of commerce: Beware Imitation.
We have plenty to be proud of. In celebrating that, there is always room for innovation. There is no need for invention.
Clans, Families and Societies
Sometimes confusion has arisen over the difference between clans and clan societies, especially in cases where a specific clan or family has no recognised chief. There need be no confusion. A society or association is not itself a clan. It serves as a means by which the historical clan or family can express its identity and kinship in the changed conditions of modern life, long after the original kindred have dispersed from their ancestral lands.
Societies and associations will normally have a Council, headed by Chairman or, as is often overseas, President. A chief can occupy that position. But the office does not turn a President into a chief.
Membership of a clan or family – in any of its spellings and including recognised septs or branches – is by birth, marriage or descent. There is no election or formal admission procedure. The exception is if the Chief chooses to admit someone, just as happened in history, who does not otherwise come under those criteria.
Membership of societies and associations, however, will be determined according to procedures that they have established, and apply, ideally in consultation with the chief. Membership will extend, naturally, to those bearing or descended from the name; but, in many cases, also to those connected in other ways. Each will have their own criteria, subject to their own Constitution.
Differentiation is not separation. A society is not a clan or family; but if it seeks to set itself apart it risks being a false construct. Its purpose, like that of the chief, is to unify all those of the name and those adhering to it. It should act to help bring together those who have pride in the name – and in step with the chief of that name.
To summarise, there are only two ways to have a chief conformed:
- The premier method is through proven genealogy back to the last Chief, which as of a direct blood line and will always takes precedence over a Family Gathering
- A Family Gathering, supervised by the Lord Lyon, held in Scotland to allow the clan to choose a Commander. It is the Commander, if not challenged after a period of time allocated by the Lord Lyon, who will start a new hereditary Chiefly line by being conformed Chief.
A quote from our Convenor
So what is the outcome of the years of research, networking and study? Well as previously said, for me the inauguration is the culmination of works began originally in 1994, but more seriously in 2007. It was a goal to ensure that our name attained the recognition it deserved and based on our history, take our rightful place in modern Scottish clan culture. This would leave something behind that we as Carruthers could all be proud of. To achieve that and sadly accepting the incumbrance that the LLC in America (Clan Carruthers ‘International’ Society) had become through their false claims and attempts to impede progress, to achieve the goal, stopping the work was not a real option. Continuing on our path to find the senior of our line, and more importantly have them agree to petition the Lyon to bear the Chiefly arms was the priority as without it, Carruthers could not attain the status all deserved. This was achieved and the rest is history and I’m happy to say that the name Carruthers is in a much better place going forwards with regards international recognition and respect than it was when I started. We are a unique family, with our own evidenced based history and that should be and will be celebrated.
Dr George Carruthers FSA Scot
So where do we sit now:
- There is only one person who has returned Carruthers to its rightful place in Scottish culture and society; Peter Carruthers of Holmains on his confirmation by the Lord Lyon in 2019 as Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers. See here
- There is only one Society authorised to represent Carruthers world-wide that being the Clan Carruthers Society (International) based out of Scotland. See here
- There is only one recognised and registered clan/family tartan of Carruthers and it is here
Our name, our Chief, his arms, our history and our genealogy are definately not open for the unscrupulous to abuse or decry.
As always we remain Ready and Faithful to inform, educate and defend, that is our role.
Another great article… Thank you!