Gaelic nobility

Gaelic nobility refers to the aristocratic families within Gaelic-speaking societies, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, who held land, titles, and social status based on kinship and traditional hierarchy. These noble families, like clan chiefs or chieftains, often governed regions and upheld cultural customs. Their authority was rooted in lineage and loyalty, maintaining social order through a combination of inheritance and allegiance. Gaelic noble structures differed from feudal systems, emphasizing kinship ties, collective identity, and customary law, which persisted for centuries and significantly shaped Gaelic societal and cultural identity.