Clan

A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship^[1] and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim 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^{[citation needed]} more centralized forms of community organization and government, and have existed in every country.^{[citation needed]} Members may identify with a coat of arms or other symbol.

^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Clan" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 419–421.

[komal_EB1911-1] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Clan" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 419–421.

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