The tribe is divided into a number of clans, 51 clan names having been recorded, but the number of existing clans may be somewhat more or less. Two of these are said to be extinct, and others nearly so. The clans are grouped in phratries. Some authorities give 8 of these, others 11, with 3 independent clans; but the phratries does not seem to be a well-defined group among the Navaho. Descent is in the female line; a man belongs to the clan of his mother, and when he marries must take a woman of some other clan. The social position of the women is high and their influence great. They often possess much property in their own right, which marriage does not alienate from them.
The clans, so far as known, are as follows:
| Aatsosni, Narrow gorge | Theshtshini, Red streak |
| Ashihi, Salt; | Thildzhehi; Thkhaneza, Among the scattered (hills) |
| Bithani, Folded arms | Thkhapaha, Among the waters |
| Dsihlnaothihlni, Encircled mountain | Thkatshini, Among the Red (waters or banks) |
| Dsihlthani, Brow of the mountain | Thobazhnaazh, Two come for water |
| Dsihltlani, Base of the mountain | Thochalsithaya, Water under the sitting frog |
| Kai, Willows | Thoditshini, Bitter water |
| Kanani, Living arrows | Thokhani, Beside the water |
| Khaltso, Yellow bodies | Thodhokongzhi, Saline water |
| Khashhlizhni, Mud | Thotsoni, Great water |
| Khaskankhatso, Much yucca | Thoyetlini, Junction of the rivers |
| Khoghanhlani, Many huts | Tlastshini, Red flat |
| Khonagani, Place of walking | Tlizihlani, Many goats |
| Kinaani, High standing house | Tsayiskithni, Sagebrush hill |
| Kinhlitshi, Red house (of stone) | Tsezhinkini, House of the black cliffs |
| Klogi, Name of an old pueblo | Tsenahapihlni, Overhanging rocks |
| Loka, Reeds (phragmites) | Tsetheshkizhni, Rocky pass |
| Maitheshkizh, Coyote pass (Jemez) | Tsethkhani, Among the rocks |
| Maitho, Coyote spring | Tsetlani, Bend in a canyon |
| Naai, Monocline | Tseyanathoni, horizontal water under cliffs |
| Nakai, White stranger (Mexican) | Tseyikeite, Rocks standing near one another |
| Nakhopani, Brown streak, horizontal on the ground | Tsezhinthiai, Trap dyke |
| Nanashthezhin, Black horizontal stripe aliens (Zuñi) | Tsinazhini, Black horizontal forest |
| Notha, Ute | Tsinsakathni, Lone tree |
| Pinbitho, Deer spring | Yoo, Beads |
Additional Navaho Indian Resources
The books presented are for their historical value only and are not the opinions of the Webmasters of the site. Handbook of American Indians, 1906