What is "teip"

Teip (also taip and taipa, Vaynakh тайпа : family, kin, clan, tribe) is a Chechen and Ingush tribal organization or clan, self-identified through descent from a common ancestor and geographic location. There are about 130-233 teips (though some sources state that there may be as many as 300). More than 20 teips originated from newcomers, in particular Avars, Kumyks, Jews, Georgians, Russians, Turks. The taips descending of non-Ingush or non-Chechen ancestors are called impure teips (in other language: su’lijn taipa, соьли тайпа). A teip's internal dynamic is based on honor and blood feuds plays major role. The teip membership and the tukkhum membership defined the social position of a Chechen. The lack of any affiliation of a person can be described as “This man has neither a teip nor a tukkhum”.