A clan is a kinship group whose members claim descent from a common ancestor, often a mythical figure or animal totem. The ancestor may be human, spirit, or animal. What matters is that members treat each other as relatives and recognize obligations that extend beyond the household. Clans can be large, spanning hundreds or thousands of people across many villages.

Clans organize marriage, residence, inheritance, and ritual. In many societies, people must marry outside their clan. Clan membership may determine where a couple lives, who owns land, and which ceremonies a person may attend. Totems often carry prohibitions: a clan with a crocodile totem may not kill or eat crocodiles. These rules mark identity and reinforce solidarity.

Clan vs. lineage

• A lineage traces descent from a known, recent ancestor.
• A clan claims descent from a distant or mythical ancestor.
• Clans often contain multiple lineages.
• Clan membership is usually unilineal, through one parent only.

Clans exist in societies with and without states. They are one of the most durable forms of social organization humans have devised.