Within the Scottish Highlands, in the 12th and 13th centuries the concept of “clan” grew beyond immediate family to cover an extended network of people who felt that they had loyalties to a particular clan chief. Not all of them would have had the surname Lamont, indeed surnames only started to come into use in the 12th century. Sometimes the extension of the clan territory, and therefore the clan members, was achieved by conquest, alliances or by marriage.
Smaller families who did not have the status of a larger clan would often obtain the protection of their more powerful neighbours, but without becoming fully absorbed. In some cases they may have been dispossessed from their original territory and been given shelter by the larger clan chief. They retained their own names and some degree of independence but became a “sept” or branch of the larger clan. In some instances, names are added to the list of clan septs by invitation of the Chief in honour of a valued friendship or marriage. In addition to septs it was common for many Gaelic names to be anglicised or altered over time. Below are a list of surnames that have been identified as being linked to the Clan Lamont. If you share one of these surnames your ancestors may have been part of the clan Lamont sometime in the past.
Black*, Blackie, Blue*, Bourdon* (of the feddal family), Brown*, Duff*, Dow*, Huie*, Lagman, Lamb*, Lamond, Lamont, LaMont, LaMonte, Lawmont, Lawmound, Lamound, Lamant, Landless, Lemond, Limont, Luke, McAlduie*, McClemont, McClyment, McClymont, McGildhuie*, McGilledow*, McGilleduff*, McGilligowie*, McGorrie*, McIlghuie*, McIlquham*, McIlzegowie*, McInturner*, McLamond, McLimont, McLymont, McPatrick*, McPhatrick*, McPhorich*, McQueen*, McSorle*, McSorley*, Patrick*, Turner*, Toward, Towart, White*, Whyte*
* Some families only
