There are two theories on where the name Fraser comes from: The first theory is that the Frasers came from France, and the name is derived from the French names Fresel, Freseau, or Fredarious. The second, and more popular theory is that the name comes from a Roman Gaul tribe whose badge was a strawberry plant – fraisier in French, and the strawberry is featured on the Fraser coat of arms to this day. Either way, history books inform us that the first Fraser to arrive in Scotland lived in Keith in East Lothian around 1160. Until the 14th century, Clan Fraser was a single clan up to the point when Clan Fraser split into two separate clans – the senior being the Lowland Frasers of Saltoun and then the Highland Frasers of Lovat – which are both recognized as two separate clans with common ancestry. It should be noted that Clan Fraser of Saltoun is led by one of only five female Clan Chieftains out of over 500 clans. For more information on Clan Fraser contact: Clarke Simm, Clan Vice Chairman Clan Fraser Society of North America

Clan Davidson is a Great Scottish Highland Clan with roots which go back to at least the 14th Century. It is believed that the Clan originated in the valley of the Spey River between the Cairngorm Mountains to the south and east and the Monadhliath Mountains to the north and west. The modern-day Scottish towns of Kingussie, Newtonmore and Avimore are located in the heart of the ancient Clan Davidson lands. Clan Davidson is rich in the history of the Scottish Highlands, sharing in Scotland’s triumphs and defeats. But… Clan Davidson is not an entity which has faded into the dust of history past… indeed, the Clan is very much alive and its influence has spread to the four corners of the Earth.

Family of Bruce International, Inc. is a non-profit organization established to create and promote kinship amongst its family members and to encourage interest in the Family of Bruce and its history. Membership is open to persons who qualify by surname, by descent, or by recognized septs: Carlysle, Carruthers, Crosbie, Randolph, and Stenhouse. It is the only such organization recognized by the hereditary chief of the Name of Bruce, The Right Honorable the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine. This organization was formed in October 2005 when the two previous Bruce organizations, Bruce International (founded 1984) and Family of Bruce Society, were dissolved to form one new one, Family of Bruce International.

Celebrating 50 years, Clan Johnston/e in America participates in various Scottish games and festivals throughout North America as well as other activities which foster awareness of Scottish and Clan history and culture. We publish a quarterly newsletter, the Spur and Phoenix, and collect historical and genealogical information about the Clan and other matters of Scottish interest. We also provide scholarships to study the Scottish arts, such as piping, drumming and highland dancing, and make available to members and others tartan and Clan-related merchandise. The first meeting of our organization was held in October 1976 at the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Come join us in celebrating our Scottish heritage! Please contact the President if you would like to become more actively involved, or if you have special skills which could be of use to our Clan.

The Clan Keith, like many Scottish clans, claims a long and noble lineage. They derive their name from the Gaelic “Ceiteach,” which means “wood” or “forest.” The clan’s early roots can be traced to the lands of Keith in East Lothian, Scotland.

The Mackays claim descent from the Royal House of Moray through the line of Morgund of Pluscarden and were originally known as Clan Morgan. The clansmen were removed to Sutherland where they rose to a powerful position, at one time owning lands from Drimholisten to Kylescue. Their later title of MacKay comes from a chief so named living at the time of David II. The first record of the name was in 1326 when Gilchrist M'ay, progenitor of the Mackays of Ugadale, made a payment to the Constable of Tarbert. The Mackays supported Bruce and fought with him at Bannockburn and by 1427 the chief, Angus Dubh Mackay was described as leader of "4 000 Strathnaver men". Their fortunes fluctuated over the centuries and many bitter feuds ensued with the Sutherlands and Rosses. In the troubles of the 17th and 18th centuries the Mackays supported the Hanovarian forces against the Jacobites and helped secure the far north for the government. The Mackays of Strathnaver are especially remembered for the famous "Mackay Regiment" raised for the service of the Dutch and Swedish crowns during the 17th century. As a result of this many clansmen settled in Holland and Sweden and gave rise to a number of noble families there. In 1628, Sir Donald Mackay was raised to the peerage of Lord Reay by Charles I. His grandson, Colonel Aenean Mackay of the Scotch-Dutch Brigade, married the heiress of the Baron van Haefton. The Mackays suffered badly in the Strathnaver clearances between 1815 and 1818 and finally in 1829 the Reay estate was sold to the Sutherland family and in 1875 the chiefship passed to Baron Mackay van Ophermett who became 10th Lord Reay. His nephew Baron Aeneas Mackay, prime minister of the Netherlands was the great grandfather of the present chief. The surname Mackay (McKay, Mackay) is the English equivalent of the Gaelic "MacAoidh" from Mac (son) and Aoidh (the genitive of the proper name Aodh). Aodh was a popular Celtic name and is said to be a form of Aed which is translated as "The fiery or impetuous one". With the passing of time, the spelling of "MacAoidh" has taken many forms including Iye, Y, Aytho, MacIye, Makky, Macky, Maky, McKye, McKeye, Mackie, Mackey, McKy, McAy, McCei, MacCay, Mackee, Makgie, Ison, Eason, Easson, and many others. The name MacIsaac is said to be a corruption of MacIye. Clan Morgan, the old name for Clan Mackay, may be derived from the Moray connection of the clan. Earliest reference to Clan Morgan is found in the "Book of Deer," where the toisheach of the clan is so described. Sir Robert Gordon tells us that the clan was termed Clan-Vic- Morgan from one Morgan who flourished in the fourteenth century.

The former Clan Ramsay Association of North America came into being in 1978 and has been thriving ever since. The Clan meets annually at one of the Highland Games around the United States or Canada for their AGM - the annual grand meeting. Clan Convener Dr. Carl Bailey of SC leads the Clan in America with the present Clan President, Pam Ramsey McNeil of Indiana; past-presidents John E. Ramsay of Raleigh, NC and Richard McGraw, of North Carolina; vice-president, Mike Ramsey of Texas; and treasurer / membership chairman, David F. Ramsey, originally of West Virginia, presently of Dunedin, FL. Many others contribute hours per week of their time to make this organization run as efficiently as it does. Among those are or have been Ron Ramsey, Bob and Mary Alice Ramsey, Mona Ramsey, Alice Ramsay, Nancy Miller, and John Ramsey Henderson. Many others represent Ramsay / Ramsey persons around the World. Please take time to visit the website - shown above - to learn more. And if you're a Ramsay / Ramsey or related person - please consider a membership. Further festivals for the coming year are listed at the Clan Ramsay International website. Of course, all of this comes under the approval and leadership of the Clan Chief, Sir James Hubert Ramsay, the 17th Earl of Dalhousie - of Scotland.

The Clan Hay Society-American Branch builds upon the foundation of fellowship we have established, and the sense of family we have nurtured, in order to preserve, promote our Scottish heritage, and the traditions of the Clan Hay within the United States.

Clan MacLeod is one of Scotland’s most celebrated Highland clans with close historical links with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Dunvegan, Harris and Glenelg whose chief is MacLeod of MacLeod (known in Gaelic as Siol Tormoid); the MacLeods of Lewis, Assynt and Raasay whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes (known in Gaelic as Siol Torquil). Both branches of the clan descend from Leod, the progenitor of the Clan MacLeod.