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The Chief of the Name is the recognized head of a family or clan. The term is in use as a title in Ireland and Scotland where Celtic traditions still survive.
In Ireland With a history going back hundreds of years, this unique Gaelic tradition has survived much of the turmoil of Irish history. Long ago, Irish leaders had titles like any other royalty in Europe, but that which makes a Chief different is the fact that his power was not about a feudal hold on land, it was about his position within his clan. Even through the Elizabethan times, the position of Chief of the Name was more important to some Irish leaders than English titles. There are a number of instances(1) where Norman lords of the time, like FitzGerald, took to using the Gaelic style of "The" or "Mór" to indicate that the individual was the primary person of his family in Ireland. The downfall of the Gaelic order in the early 1600s led to a decline of the power of the Chiefs. Plantation efforts, the Wars of Cromwell and King James, saw that by the end of the 17th century, most of the Chiefships of the Name were living out of Ireland, lost, or reduced to poverty. Until 2003 an Irish "Chief of the Name" was a person recognised by the Chief Herald of Ireland as the most senior known male descendant of the last inaugurated or de facto chief of that name in power in Gaelic Ireland at or before the end of the sixteenth century (See Irish nobility). The practice was discontinued in that year, but may be reinstated if and when the Genealogy and Heraldry Bill 2006 becomes law. Abandonment: the MacCarthy Mór Scandal After genealogical errors in the 1990s which saw Terence Francis MacCarthy and several other impostors receive recognition, the Irish government decided in July 2003 to abandon this practice, based upon the view that there was no proper legal basis for it, and to continue such recognition would, on the advice of the Attorney General, necessitate a referendum to amend the Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hÉireann). This decision was criticised by some, and greatly offended the recognized chiefs. Some modern Irish clan organisations have named honorary chiefs where no hereditary Chief of the Name is known. List of Irelands Chiefs as at Abandonment, 2003 At abandonment the official government position was as follows: Chiefs of the Name Designation dormant Designations with note Designation withdrawn Application for recognition pending In Scotland In general, the same pattern holds true of the Clan Chiefs in Scotland as for Chiefs in Ireland. They have a variety of titles, but a Chief of a clan is still the recognised leader within a family. The Lord Lyon is charged with recognition and affairs concerning Scotland's Clan Chiefs. | ||||||||
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