Our Society and Scottish Roots

Our gatherings, traditions, tartan and shared history bring Jack descendants together from Scotland, New Zealand, the United States, Australia, Canada and beyond.

Over the years we explored ways to formalise our group in Scotland. Meetings were held, constitutions drafted, tartan designs refined and correspondence opened with the heraldic authorities. These enquiries helped clarify that the Jack name, although historically Scottish, has never been recognised as a traditional clan under heraldic law.

This guidance confirmed that while we cannot form a heraldically recognised Scottish clan, nothing prevents us from continuing our work as a cultural and genealogical family society.

Why we use the word Clan

In Scottish life the word clan has two meanings. One refers to formal heraldry. The other is the older cultural meaning of a connected kin group. We use the cultural definition.

Clan Jack has always been about bringing together the descendants of many Jack families who share a name, a story and a sense of belonging. The word reflects community rather than heraldry.

Why we registered in the United States

As our family group expanded, it became clear we needed a modern legal home to protect our tartan, badge artwork and emerging Coat of Arms design, and to support future gatherings and projects.

• a formal legal identity
• the ability to protect our intellectual property
• transparent governance
• a stable foundation for future generations

Our officers

• John Jack of Dundee, Scotland - Chief Executive Officer and hereditary Chief of our family group
• Carl Jack, North Carolina, USA - Chief Technical Officer
• Jill Memmott Olsen, Utah, USA - Chief Financial Officer

This structure supports the work of the Society. It does not change our origins, our values or the central role of our Chief in Scotland.

Global membership

We welcome all Jack descendants, whatever the spelling of the name or the path your family took across the world. Our Facebook group has more than 937 members and continues to grow as cousins discover each other and add their stories.