Are they a Clan? No, they are not. They are more like a family. However, over the centuries they have been linked as allies of Clan Lamont and Clan MacGregor.
A clan is defined similarly by different organizations and dictionaries as (1) a group of close-knit and interrelated families (especially in the Scottish Highlands), (2) a Celtic group especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor. A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin septum “enclosure, fold”. The term Sept becomes particularly significant in the history of Clan MacGregor and most certainly of the Whytes.
Do they have their own tartan (commonly called plaid)? No. But it is generally accepted that Whytes wear the MacGregor Red and Green tartan: They may also wear the Lamont tartan, which becomes confusing as the Lamonts may sometimes wear the MacGregor tartan,
Do they have an ancestral home or homelands? No again. They lived in the western Scottish Highlands around Loch Awe
Where did they come from? No-one knows for certain.
In order to understand better who we are, following is a detailed look at one branch of the Whyte family. This branch is largely now found in Australia, but we know there are many more in Scotland and North America.
Whyte 