Sept

A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family.

A clan also included a large group of loosely related septs – dependent families – all of whom looked to the clan chief as their head and their protector.

According to the Oxford Companion to Scottish History, the MacMartins of Letterfinlay who were a sept of the Clan Cameron would have seen themselves as distinct within their own lands, but would have also seen themselves as Camerons if operating elsewhere outside Lochaber.

The MacMartins, who became a sept of Clan Cameron, are said to have been amongst the most loyal and valuable followers of Cameron of Lochiel.

According to the Oxford Companion to Scottish History, the MacMartins of Letterfinlay who were a sept of the Clan Cameron would have seen themselves as distinct within their own lands, but would have also seen themselves as Camerons if operating elsewhere outside Lochaber. For example, the surname Miller/Millar was made a sept of Clan MacFarlane, and Taylor of Clan Cameron.

The MacMartins, a sept of Clan Cameron, are said to have been amongst the most loyal and valuable followers of Lochiel.

These Gaelic names are borne by at least three unrelated native Irish clans or septs (a division or part of a clan).

Brehon Law, the ancient legal system of Ireland clearly defined the clan system in pre-Norman Ireland, with its electoral system limited to the senior sept's members (see derbfine), which collapsed after the Tudor Conquest in the 16th century.

Among the most important septs were the O'Neills (Uí Néill) in central Ulster (Tír Eóghain)—flanked to their west by the O'Donnells (Ua Domnaill)—the O'Byrnes (Ua Bróin) and O'Tooles (Ua Tuathail) in County Wicklow, the Kavanaghs (Ua Caomhánach) in County Wexford, the MacCarthys (Mac Cárthaigh) and O'Sullivans (Ua Súilleabháin) in County Cork and County Kerry and the O'Brien (Ó Briain) lordship of Thomond in County Clare.

The Sippe came to be a cognatic, extended family unit, exactly analogous to the Scottish/Irish sept.

A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family.

The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as sliocht, meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person (for example, Sliocht Bhriain Mhic Dhiarmada, "the descendant of Brian MacDermott").

The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as sliocht, meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person (for example, Sliocht Bhriain Mhic Dhiarmada, "the descendant of Brian MacDermott").

The word may derive from the Latin saeptum, meaning "enclosure" or "fold", or via an alteration of "sect".

Síol is a Gaelic word meaning "progeny" or "seed" that is used in the context of a family or clan with members who bear the same surname and inhabited the same territory, as a manner of distinguishing one group from another; a family called Mac an Bháird (anglicised as "Ward") might be divided into septs such as Síol Sheáin Mhic Bhriain, Síol Chonchobhair Óig, Síol Sheáin Chuinn, or Síol Chon Chonnacht.

A sept might follow another chief if two families were linked through marriage, or, if a family lived on the land of a powerful laird, they would follow him whether they were related or not.

Bonds of manrent were sometimes used to bind lesser chiefs and his followers to more powerful chiefs.

Such lists date back to the 19th century, when clan societies and tartan manufacturers attempted to capitalise on the enthusiasm and interest for all things Scottish.

Also, common surnames, found throughout the British Isles, were linked to particular clans.

Also, common surnames, found throughout the British Isles, were linked to particular clans.

For example, the surname Miller/Millar was made a sept of Clan MacFarlane, and Taylor of Clan Cameron.

For example, the surname Miller/Millar was made a sept of Clan MacFarlane, and Taylor of Clan Cameron.

For example, the surname Miller/Millar was made a sept of Clan MacFarlane, and Taylor of Clan Cameron.

Furthermore, patronymic forms of common personal names were also linked to particular clans.

Furthermore, patronymic forms of common personal names were also linked to particular clans.

The English word "sept" is most accurate in referring to a subgroup within a large clan, particularly when that group has taken up residence outside their clan's original territory (e.g. the O'Neills, MacSweeneys, and O'Connors).

The English word "sept" is most accurate in referring to a subgroup within a large clan, particularly when that group has taken up residence outside their clan's original territory (e.g. the O'Neills, MacSweeneys, and O'Connors).

The English word "sept" is most accurate in referring to a subgroup within a large clan, particularly when that group has taken up residence outside their clan's original territory (e.g. the O'Neills, MacSweeneys, and O'Connors).

Related Irish clans often belong to larger groups, dynasties, such as the Dál gCais, Uí Néill, Uí Fiachrach, and Uí Maine.