Are you a gentleman?

@Kenscoff Well, true. In the 18th century, the definition of a "gentleman" was someone who was independently wealthy (usually as a result of being a scion of landed aristocracy), such that they did not have to work for a living! But in common usage today, at least in the U.S., it's generally referring to the patterns of behavior. I am definitely not a gentleman in the social status sense, but behaviorally, it remains a life goal! :-)

Well, I'm a MacLaine of Lochbuie on my mother's side, and have an ancestor who was a thegn of King Harold Godwinson, survived the battle of Hastings, swore fealty to the new King (William), and HIS son was a tenant-in-chief of William Rufus. But I don't think I can claim armigerous status, from that many generations back... ;-)

Yep. And there were variant spellings among both branches – I am pretty sure it's MacLaine of Lochbuie, as that's the closest to the spelling on the family document we have, but it could be McLean of Duart. Of course, as you say, they were both branches of the same family, to start. I think the original was something like 'MacGillie Eoin," wasn't it? Not sure who the "John" in question was, of whom we were gillies... ;-)

Knew that about gillie. And if one is going to be a follower of someone, Iain MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, seems like a good choice! ;-)

Yep. Are you familiar with this, from one of his descendants?

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G61AmCqtzN4]