mori), which translates from Latin as "conquer or die". Clan Badge Another symbol used by clan members is a clan badge, or sometimes called a plant badge. The original clan badges were merely plants worn in bonnets or hung from a pole or spear. Today, the clan badge attributed to Clan MacNeil is dryas. Trefoil has also been attributed to the clan, however this clan badge may actually be attributed to the McNeills of Gigha, a branch of Clan MacNeil. Trefoil has also been attributed to the Lamonts, another clan in Argyl. The Lamonts and MacNeils/McNeills both claim descent from the same O'Neill who settled in Scotland in the Middle Ages. Tartan There have been several tartans associated with the name MacNeil / MacNeill. However, in 1997 the chief of Clan MacNeil directed members of the clan that there were only two tartans that he recognised as "clan tartans". These were: MacNeil of Barra and MacNeil of Colonsay. The MacNeil of Barra tartan has been the standard MacNeil of Barra tartan for over a century. Coat of arms In Scotland, all coats of arms belong to a single person. The coat of arms typically attributed to Clan MacNeil belongs solely to the current chief of the clan. A depiction of the coat of arms is painted in the Great Hall of Kisimul Castle in Castlebay, Barra, Scotland. This coat of arms is divided into quarters: Upper Left: Lion Rampant (mimicking the Royal Standard of the King of Scotland) Upper Right: Castle in the water (symbolizing Kisimul Castle in Castlebay) Lower Left: 3-masted ship (Representing either the seafaring nature of the clan or the migration of the clan from the Ulster, Ireland to Barra, Scotland Lower Right: Red Hand of Ulster surrounded by nine shackles representing Niall of the Nine Hostages Surrounding the Coat of Arms : Crest: a Rock (same as on the clan badge) Chapeau: Red velvet cap lined with ermine, symbolic of a Baron Helm: Height of the Helmet is determined by rank Mantle: Fabric surrounding the Arms Supporters: Two lions rampant Compartment: The base of the Arms, made of Dryas flowers (the clan badge) Distribution The topic of who is a MacNeil can be a complicated one. By convention, anyone descended from a member of Clan MacNeil can claim membership. Because of the history of slavery in the United States and the Caribbean, however, many African-Americans may