FIND A SCOTTISH CLAN SOCIETY IN NEW ENGLAND
Connect with Your Clan and with the Scottish Community Around You
By Larry Bethune, Editor-in-Chief, Scots in New England
One of the best ways to explore your Scottish heritage is to connect with a clan society. You don’t necessarily need to live in Scotland—or even know your complete Scottish genealogy—to begin.
Throughout New England, clan commissioners, conveners, regional representatives, and volunteers maintain clan tents at Highland Games, help people explore family connections, organize gatherings, answer genealogy questions, and welcome new members.
Some clans have formal New England or Northeast regions, while others are national or international organizations whose commissioners and members regularly participate in New England events.
The directory below is intended as a starting point. Follow the Membership link for the official society’s current joining information. Where we have been able to verify a New England or Northeast organization or representative, we have noted that as well.
CLAN BUCHANAN
Organization: Clan Buchanan Society International
Clan Buchanan has a particularly well-developed regional structure. Its Northeast USA Region includes New England, with state-level representatives where positions are filled. The society currently identifies David Gilman of Massachusetts as Northeast Regional Director and Richard Byrne as Connecticut Regent.
Membership is unusually inclusive: the society says people interested in exploring Scottish heritage may join even without a direct Buchanan connection.
Clan Buchanan Society International
Join Clan Buchanan
Find Northeast and State Representatives
CLAN CAMERON
Organization: Clan Cameron Association of North America — Northeast Branch
Clan Cameron has one of the clearest specifically New England organizations. Its Northeast Branch serves Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
New England contact: Northeast Branch Convener
Email: convener@clancameronne.org
CLAN CAMPBELL
Organization: Clan Campbell Society (North America)
Clan Campbell has a long-standing New England presence. The society identifies Linda J. Campbell Knowlton as its New Hampshire Commissioner, noting her representation of Clan Campbell at the New Hampshire Highland Games.
Clan Campbell Society North America
Membership Information
CLAN COCHRANE
Organization: Clan Cochrane Society of North America
Clan Cochrane maintains a North American organization with state commissioners and participates in Highland Games and Scottish heritage activities. Its current leadership directory should be consulted for the most recent state appointments, as commissioner positions change.
Clan Cochrane Society of North America
Clan Cochrane Organization and Commissioners
CLAN DONALD
Organization: Clan Donald USA
Clan Donald USA divides the country into 13 regions with regional, state and deputy commissioners. New England falls within its North Atlantic Region, currently headed by Regional Commissioner Eugene McKechnie.
Membership connects members with their local commissioners and includes regional and local communications as well as genealogy resources.
Clan Donald USA
Join Clan Donald USA
Clan Donald Regions and Commissioners
CLAN DONNACHAIDH
Organization: Clan Donnachaidh Society
The Northeast Branch covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as New York.
Northeast President: D’arce Reid
Published contact: dhess@dhconsulting.me
Clan Donnachaidh Society
USA Branches
CLAN DUNBAR
Organization: Clan Dunbar Society
Clan Dunbar is a North American organization that hosts tents at Highland Games around the United States and encourages people interested in Dunbar and associated-family history to join. Its associated surnames include Blackadder, Corbett, Dundas, Edgar, Home, Knox, Nisbet/Nisbett, Wedderburn and others.
CLAN FRASER
Organization: Clan Fraser Society of North America
Clan Fraser has a particularly relevant regional structure for New England. Its Northeast Region includes all six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Northeast Regional Commissioner: Charlie Frasier
Clan Fraser Society of North America
Membership
Northeast Region
HOUSE OF GORDON
Organization: House of Gordon USA
The House of Gordon has a history of organized activity in New England, including representation at New England Highland Games. Because its commissioner and convener assignments have changed over time, prospective members should use the current House of Gordon site rather than older published commissioner lists.
General membership contact: membership@houseofgordonusa.org
CLAN GUNN
Organization: Clan Gunn Society of North America
Clan Gunn maintains commissioners and deputies who represent the society at Highland Games throughout North America. Membership helps support those local and regional clan tents and also provides access to society programs and scholarships.
Clan Gunn Society of North America
Join Clan Gunn
CLAN HAMILTON
Organization: Clan Hamilton Society
Founded in 1975, the Clan Hamilton Society maintains commissioners and participates in Highland Games and other Scottish gatherings. Membership includes society publications and opportunities to participate in clan tents and gatherings.
Clan Hamilton Society
Clan Hamilton Membership
CLAN INNES
Organization: Innes Clan Society
New England Commissioner: Brian Scribner
Published email: bscribner16@gmail.com
The society specifically identifies a New England Commissioner, making this another especially useful clan connection for people in the region.
Innes Clan Society
Contact Clan Innes
CLAN MACBEAN
Organization: Clan MacBean, Inc.
Clan MacBean has established a region specifically comprising Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Published society material identifies Sean Hebert of Manchester, New Hampshire, as its Region 9 commissioner. Because that particular commissioner listing is from an earlier society publication, prospective members should confirm the current representative with Clan MacBean.
Clan MacBean
Clan MacBean Membership
CLAN MACDOUGALL
Organization: Clan MacDougall Society of North America
Clan MacDougall has an official Northeast Region covering Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as New York.
Northeast Regional Commissioner: Anne Carine
Clan MacDougall Society of North America
Join Clan MacDougall
Officers and Regional Commissioners
CLAN MACINTYRE
Organization: Clan MacIntyre Association
The Clan MacIntyre Association welcomes people related by blood, marriage or adoption to a MacIntyre or Wright, and specifically states that members do not have to trace their ancestry all the way back to Scotland.
Clan MacIntyre Association
Clan MacIntyre Membership
CLAN MACKINNON
Organization: Clan MacKinnon Society
The modern Clan MacKinnon Society is a worldwide organization with a strong American history and regional commissioners coordinating local activities. It welcomes people researching MacKinnon ancestry as well as those seeking greater involvement with the clan and Scottish heritage.
CLAN MACLACHLAN
Organization: Clan MacLachlan Association of North America
Founded in 1965, the North American association represents MacLachlan/McLachlan families and associated names. Its leadership has included members in both Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, demonstrating a significant New England connection.
Clan MacLachlan Association of North America
The society’s homepage provides its current Join the Clan / Renew Your Membership option.
CLAN MACLAREN
Organization: Clan MacLaren Society of North America
The society represents MacLaren/MacLaurin families, spelling variations and associated families. It offers regular, family, supporting and other membership categories; notably, its Supporting Membership is open to people without a MacLaren surname who have a genuine interest in the society’s objectives.
Clan MacLaren Society of North America
Join Clan MacLaren
CLAN MACLEAN
Organization: Clan Maclean Association in the United States
Clan Maclean’s Region 5 encompasses all six New England states, along with New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Its structure provides for regional directors, commissioners and state conveners.
The association recognizes numerous related names and spelling variations, including Beaton and Bethune, among many others.
Clan Maclean Association in the United States
Join Clan Maclean
CLAN MACLELLAN
Organization: Clan MacLellan
The organization has a designated Northeast/New England regional structure.
Northeast/New England contact: Dan MacLellan
Published organizational email: NorthEast@Clanmaclellan.net
CLAN MACLEOD
Organization: Clan MacLeod Society USA
Clan MacLeod maintains a specific New England organization.
New England contact: Dorna Caskie
Email: macleodnewengland@gmail.com
Its New England organization covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island; Vermont is handled through the society’s broader Northeast structure.
Clan MacLeod Society USA
Clan MacLeod Regions
CLAN MACPHERSON
Organization: Clan Macpherson Association — United States Branch
The worldwide Clan Macpherson Association has a formal United States branch. Membership is available in several categories, including junior, young adult, annual, term and life membership.
Clan Macpherson Association
Join the U.S. Branch
CLAN ROSS
Organization: Clan Ross America
Clan Ross America welcomes people bearing Ross and numerous associated surnames. Membership provides access to society activities, genealogy and historical material and the Clan Ross newsletter.
Clan Ross America
Membership Information
Join Clan Ross Online
CLAN SCOTT
Organization: Clan Scott Society
Clan Scott has an especially useful regional organization for New England. Its Northeast Region includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Northeast Commissioner: Joseph “Skip” Scott
Published email: dscott417@aol.com
CLAN SINCLAIR
Organization: Clan Sinclair Association, Inc. (USA)
The society has designated a Commsioner for the state of New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Commissioner: Rory Hallowell, roryhallowell@gmail.com
Clan Sinclair Association, Inc. (USA)
CLAN SUTHERLAND
Organization: Clan Sutherland Society of North America
The society has designated New England as a specific territory encompassing all six states. At the time of our most recent check, however, the New England Commissioner position was vacant.
Contact while position is vacant: president@clansutherland.org
Clan Sutherland Society of North America
Don’t See Your Clan?
Don’t assume that means your clan isn’t active in New England.
Dozens of additional Scottish clan and family societies have members, commissioners or representatives who participate in Highland Games and Scottish events throughout the region. Clan representation also changes from year to year as new commissioners and conveners volunteer.
A particularly good way to make contact is to visit the Clan Village at a New England Highland Games. Introduce yourself at the clan tent—even if you aren’t certain that you’ve found the right clan. Clan representatives are accustomed to helping visitors sort through surnames, septs, family traditions and possible clan connections.
And don’t worry if you cannot yet prove a direct genealogical connection. Membership rules vary enormously from clan to clan. Some societies require descent or an associated surname; others welcome spouses, descendants through female lines, associated families, supporters, or simply people who have a genuine interest in the clan and Scottish heritage.
Your Name May Be the Beginning, Not the Answer
Scottish clan affiliation can be more complicated than matching your surname to a list on the Internet. Spellings changed. Families migrated. Some surnames became associated with more than one clan. The concept of a “sept” itself is more complicated than many popular clan charts suggest.
So, use a clan list as a clue rather than proof.
Contact the appropriate clan society, talk with its genealogist or commissioner, and learn what that particular clan says about its associated families and membership requirements.
You may discover not simply where your ancestors came from, but a living community of people keeping that heritage alive today.
A Note About This Directory
Clan organizations are largely volunteer-run, and commissioners, conveners and email addresses change. This directory uses information published by the clan organizations themselves wherever possible.
If you represent a Scottish clan in New England and would like us to add or correct your clan’s information, please contact Scots in New England. at: editor@scotsnewengland.org
Our goal is simple: to make it easier for people throughout New England to find their clan, explore their heritage, and become part of today’s Scottish community.
