The Chief of Clan Urquhart hereby issues the following Directive regarding the Criteria for determining that a Branch of Urquharts is a Major Branch of Clan Urquhart.
1. The Branch must have a clearly established identity.
2. Written proof must be submitted that those who wish to be recognized as a Major Branch are in fact descended from the ancestor whom they have identified as the “Founder” of their Branch.
3. The “Founding Ancestor” of the Branch must be at least five generations back from the oldest person petitioning for recognition of the Branch and must have died at least 150 years ago.
4. It must be shown that at least fifty (50) adults (male or female) bearing the name Urquhart have been members of this family group from the time of the “Founder” to the present.
5. Evidence must be presented that there is a program of serious ongoing research into the history of the Branch. Copies of this research must be placed in the Chief’s Archives.
6. It must be shown that members of the Branch have been functioning as active members of Clan Urquhart for at least ten (10) years; and that, during that period, branch members have been conscious of their relationship to each other; and, as a group, to Clan Urquhart as a whole.
7. It must be demonstrated that the Branch is a vital force in the life of Clan Urquhart.
This can be done by showing that at least fifty (50) members of the petitioning group have established direct, ongoing contact with Clan Urquhart through active individual memberships in the Clan Urquhart Association; that twenty-five (25) of the members of the Branch have made significant contributions to the preservation of the heritage and the ongoing life of the Clan by membership in and contributions to the Clan Urquhart Foundation; that members of the Branch are involved in and sponsor of Clan Urquhart activities; and that the Branch and its members engage in other significant activities which benefit of Clan Urquhart.
8. It must be shown that five (5) members of the Branch have acquired Arms from the Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland as descendants of the “Founding Ancestor” of the Branch.
9. It must be demonstrated that Clan and Branch consciousness and commitment are of a sufficiently high order within the Branch that there is reasonable expectation that the Branch will continue as a vital force in the life of the Clan in the years ahead.
This Directive is issued under the hand and seal of Kenneth Trist Urquhart of Urquhart, Chief of Clan Urquhart, at New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America on the third day of September Two Thousand and Four.