Clan roots - can such be found?

I found this person under McCauley Clan but I think that newer as also found the McAuley clan associated with Surname, I have paper says the McAuley clan was associated with McGregors and went to a guy named Olf but to tell truth I can’t go back that far in tree. Why is Clans changing or did the wars have something to do with the changes. But that about as much history on Scotland I have not found to many documents in Scotland just story someone said they researched in Scotland stating he was Scottish Sea captain fighting for British then turning sides to fight for colonist. Have spoke to McCauley clan on Facebook they stated if wanted to join I could. They did mention the claim that They were in McAuley Clan originally although I can’t take tree back as far as them.

Captain James Jonathan McCauley

Billie

This often comes about from different families but similar spellings. I wouldn't assume that McCauley and McAuley were always the same family without a lot of research to see if that's really true or just something people say.

Wikipedia suggests there are different families:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAuley_(surname)

Eerik, can you provide a link to these Scottish ancestors? I had a look through your tree but couldn't find it.

Justin,
Here Earnest McCauley I have in that line that the end of line.

Name: Henry Macaul
Dates: 1701-1725
Location: Glasgow Scotland
Occupation(s): merchant commerce(s)
Gender: Male
Address(es): Glasgow, Scotland
Source Date: 1723
Source Info: Subscribed to The History of the Propagation of Christianity and the Overthrow of Paganism (Vol. 1), 1723, MILLAR, Robert. Edinburgh; Subject: history

I found a Tarten would this person be under a Scot or Scott clan or Conventry clan? He pretty high up but not sure how far back Clan system went back.

John Scot of Calvery

Billie

Hi Eerik,
I have many Scottish surnames in my lineages which in brief, include McKinnon/MacInnon, McBain/MacBain/McBean, Urquhart, McCargar/McArgar/McArdle, McFarlane, Horne and more. Many derivatives have been found but confirmed as the same families. Sometimes literacy was a problem and transcriptions often were based on phonetic pronunciation. Some also chose to eliminate the Mc or Mac for their own reasons.
I could never be an expert on Tartans as they are steeped in history over 100's of years, but I did find that even within one Clan, there were several different tartans that told their own story. Clans had a "formal" gathering Tartan, one when going into battle and others. They had to be recognisable of course, on the battlefield.
Out of interest, on my grandparents lounge wall was a very old and large lithograph of two Scottish Clans going into battle facing each other for the charge. They were being piped in by their Clan pipers, horses were rearing behind them. This lithograph was always a concern to me in my young mind at the time because I could not understand the significance of it. Now I understand a little more. The picture still remains very poignant in my mind.
Eerik, I also have a Swedish Lineage which incorporates Finnish and Danish too. Will check to see if we are cousins..
Best regards,
Coralie