clan
Sign in to saveA clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim other descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. 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.
AI overview
A clan is a group of people connected by family ties or a shared belief in common ancestry, often tracing back to a founding ancestor who represents the clan's identity. Clans are important in many societies because they establish rules about who can marry whom, typically prohibiting marriage between clan members to prevent what those societies consider incest.
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Article
10 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Clans as political units
- Scottish Clans
- Irish Clans
- Clannism
- African
- Clans by continent or region
- See also
- Notes
- References
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim other descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. 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.
Clans preceded more centralized forms of community organization and government, and have existed in every country. Members may identify with a coat of arms or other symbol.