Which clan am i from?

Question

My surname (watts) can be either part of the buchanan clan or the forbes clan. How do i find out which I am from?

Answer 1

The variety of surnames within a Scottish clan do not represent separate and definable sub-clans but instead reflect the vagaries of transition of the Gaels into the English naming system as well as marriages, migrations and occupations.  The main family itself may have developed a variety of surnames.   The preferred modern usage is to avoid the use of the term "sept" and to simply describe these names as what they are - surnames of the family and of allied or dependent families.  It is preferable to speak of "The names and families of Clan X" rather to call a name "a sept of Clan X".  "Sept" is actually a term borrowed from Irish culture in the nineteenth century to explain the use of a variety of surnames by members of a single clan.  Where Scots would say "MacGregor and his clan" and Irish historian might say "O'Neill and his sept".  

I have only seen Watt as part of clan Buchanan

Answer 2

This might help you narrow it down, but the only way to be certain of any connections is to do the research into your ancestry, your own ancestry may even be English, not Scottish !!

Surname: Watts

This is an Anglo-Scottish surname but of Norman-French and Germanic pre 7th century origins. Recorded as Walt, Watt, the diminutive Wattin, and the patronymics Watson, Wattins, Wattis, Watts, however spelt it derives from the popular medieval given name Walter. This was introduced into both England and Scotland by the Normans in the form Wattier or Wautier a compound of the Germanic elements "wald", meaning to rule and "heri"- an army. The original personal name gave rise to many surname variations as well as the double diminutives such as Watkinson, Watkins, and Watkiss. The surname in Scotland is particularly associated with Aberdeenshire where the first recording is that of Wat of Carnegy in 1446, whilst the family of Watts of Rosehill, were supporters of Kings James V1 in 1596, where they distinguished themselves in battle. Amongst the interesting recordings associated with the name is that of Roger Wattys of Suffolk in 1381 whilst David Watt was an early settler in the New World. He was recorded as being a landowner in the parish of Christchurch, in the Barbadoes, in 1680.The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Wattes. This was dated 1279, in the "Hundred Rolls" of the county of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Edward 1st of England, 1272 - 1307.

Answer 3

The Ku Klux