List of the current members of the Executive Committee of The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

This section explains why certain chiefs are not members of The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, while others, although undoubtedly heads of their respective families are not listed at all. The following notes may help to clarify the situation.

The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (“the Council”) formed on 25th March 1952, is a non political and non sectarian body with the following objects.

The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs was founded in the reign of King George VI by the then Lord High Constable of Scotland, The Countess of Erroll, on the advice and recommendation of the late Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon King of Arms.

The clan system is closely bound up with Scottish heraldry.

Every person who has the same surname as the chief is deemed to be a member of the clan. Equally a person who offers allegiance to the chief is recognised as a member of the clan unless the chief decides that he will not accept that person’s allegiance.

If the Lord Lyon is so minded a Commander will be appointed. Once that has happened a 10 year period must then elapse before any question of a chief can be considered.

Find out about Heraldic crests and who is entitled to wear them.

There are no strict rules on who has the right to wear a particular tartan. People normally wear only the tartan (if any) of their surname, or a “district tartan” connected with where they live or where their family come from.

If you are interested in finding out more about Heraldry and the Scottish clan system, we would recommend the following books.