Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Clan" in English language version.
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With the idea of the powerful animal Totemism is closely connected. It may be true that a totem may also be a plant, or indeed some natural phenomenon; yet '[...] the relationship of man to animal may be regarded as the real core of Totemism'. [...] the well-being of some human community is irrevocably bound up with the totem; and from this we may, but need not neccessarily, (a) infer that the group bears the name of the totem: (b) the totem is accounted its ancestor.
Clans, lacking the residential unity of lineages, depend on symbols — of animals, plants, natural forces, and objects — to provide members with solidarity [...]. These symbols, called totems, are often associated with the clan's mythical origin [...].
A lineage is an organized group of descendants of a single, specific ancestor. The ancestor is referred to as an "apical" ancestor because he is at the 'apex' of the genealogy by which the lineage membership is determined, and the descent links to this person are known (or written in a genealogy where they can be looked up). A clan is a property-holding group made up of descendants of an apical ancestor, but the details of the descent lines from that ancestor are unknown. In some cases the apical ancestor is clearly mythical, and in some societies the apical ancestor may even be non-human.
A lineage is an organized group of descendants of a single, specific ancestor. The ancestor is referred to as an "apical" ancestor because he is at the 'apex' of the genealogy by which the lineage membership is determined, and the descent links to this person are known (or written in a genealogy where they can be looked up). A clan is a property-holding group made up of descendants of an apical ancestor, but the details of the descent lines from that ancestor are unknown. In some cases the apical ancestor is clearly mythical, and in some societies the apical ancestor may even be non-human.
