Clan
Kinship groups uniting members through real or perceived common descent.
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A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Members may claim descent from a founding individual or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity, even if lineage details remain unknown. Clans have existed in every country and preceded more centralized forms of community organization and government.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Social organization, kinship studies
Facts from the source article.
Background
The word 'clan' derives from the Gaelic word clann, meaning 'children', 'offspring', 'progeny' or 'descendants'. None of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic terms for kinship groups is cognate to English clan; Irish and Scottish Gaelic clann means 'children', while fine means 'clan', teaghlach means 'family' in the sense of the nuclear family, and muintir means 'family' in the broad sense of 'kinsfolk'. In different cultures and situations, a clan usually has different meaning than other kin-based groups such as tribes and bands.
Often, the distinguishing factor is that a clan is a smaller, integral part of a larger society such as a tribe, chiefdom, or a state. In some societies, clans may have an official leader such as a chief, matriarch or patriarch; or such leadership role is performed by elders. Examples include Irish, Scottish, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese clans, which exist as distinct social groupings within their respective nations.
Traditional anthropological thought, as in the work of Gerardus van der Leeuw, classified non-human examples of such 'ancestors' (frequently animals) as totems. Many societies' exogamy rules are on a clan basis, where all members of one's own clan, or the clans of both parents or even grandparents, are excluded from marriage as incest. Members may identify with a coat of arms or other symbol.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clan?
A clan is a social group held together by genuine or assumed shared descent from common ancestors. It operates as a kinship-based unit of organization that existed before more centralized forms of government emerged.
How are clans linked to exogamy rules?
Exogamy rules are a hallmark of clan-based societies, requiring individuals to form marriages outside their own kinship group. This practice reinforces social boundaries and creates alliances between distinct clans.
How old and widespread is the clan system?
Clans have been present in every country and represent one of the earliest forms of community organization. They predate more centralized governmental and social structures, making them a foundational unit in kinship studies.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Clan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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