Kinweave
About this independent guide
What the site covers, how the pages are checked and what it is not.
What this site is
Kinweave is an independent information site about Scottish clan history and family genealogy. It explains how the clan system worked, how surnames and septs relate to clans, what tartan, crest and motto mean and how to trace Scottish ancestors through the main record sources.
The site is not a clan society, not an official body and not a records, DNA or heraldry service. It is not affiliated with any clan, chief, society, archive or government organisation, and it does not sell research, certificates or products.
How the pages are written
Each page is written to answer a specific question directly, with the answer placed under the matching heading. Dates and figures are taken from institutional sources such as the National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople, the Court of the Lord Lyon and legislation.gov.uk, and from standard reference works. Where a claim rests on clan tradition rather than documents, the text says so. Where sources disagree, the text gives the range or leaves the figure out.
The site carries no invented authors, reviews or personal family stories. Statements about records and fees are accurate at the time of writing and may change, so check the official site before you buy or order anything.
How to use it
Begin with how to find your Scottish clan if you have a surname, or with how to trace Scottish ancestors if you want to start from records. The clan history timeline gives the background, and the guides on tartan, crest and motto and the Highland Clearances cover the symbols and the migration.