Within each of the six nations, people are divided into a number of matrilineal clans. The number of clans varies by nation, currently from three to eight, with a total of nine different clan names.
Current Clans
| Seneca | Cayuga | Onondaga | Tuscarora | Oneida | Mohawk |
| Wolf | Wolf | Wolf | Wolf (Θkwarì•nę) | Wolf (Thayú:ni) | Wolf (Okwáho) |
| Bear | Bear | Bear | Bear (Uhčíhręˀ) | Bear (Ohkwá:li) | Bear (Ohkwá:ri) |
| Turtle | Turtle | Turtle | Turtle (Ráˀkwihs) | Turtle (A'no:wál) | Turtle (A'nó:wara) |
| Snipe | Snipe | Snipe | Snipe (Tawístawis) | - | - |
| Deer | - | Deer | Deer | - | - |
| Beaver | - | Beaver | Beaver (Rakinęhá•ha•ˀ) | - | - |
| Heron | Heron | - | - | - | - |
| Hawk | - | Hawk | - | - | - |
| - | - | Kel | Eel (Akunęhukwatíha•ˀ) | - | - |
