Which tartan?

[turbodog]

I would like to get a kilt that reflects my family past (I have a German patronymic so no obvious Scots connection). In digging into family genealogy (Clark on Father's side and Park on Mother's) I ran into dead ends (so far) on the Clark line, but the Park line took off. So far I have lineage included in the Thompson, Cunningham, Campbell, Douglas, Lindsay, Stewart, Bruce, Ramsey clans and maybe all the way back to the MacAlpin.

Good God, how does a body choose where to throw in allegiance when you have Scottish ancestry but weren't born with a clan surname? It's not just about the tartan itself, but the family connection.

I've seen posts that say "Just pick a tartan you like", and heck, it may come down to that, but I figured I'd ask the community because I know I can't be the first with this conundrum.

[McMathTX]

In the end, it's going to be a very personal choice and only one that you can make. You're right, it may boil down to a favorite tartan - and that's ok. It might be based on a favorite grandmother, memory, etc.... I don't think you'll lose whatever choice you make. Go for it!
Dean

[Lyle1]

I wear Stewart tartans, because my immediate paternal line is affiliated with the Clan Stewart. I've always thought that in addition to the Stewart tartans, I might wear the Colquhoun tartan for my mother's clan, but then I traced some of my Scottish lines and found connections to almost two dozen clans, and the choices seemed endless. Now, though, I am leaning toward some of the district tartans, including two Kilmarnock tartans (my paternal grandfather was born there), and my current favorite, the Caledonia Tartan for purely esthetic reasons. For me, the district tartans seem more appropriate than the tartan of a clan to which my most recent connection was hundreds of years ago, but that is purely a personal preference, which might change.

So, I guess my advice is that in addition to any clan tartans that you like or feel are appropriate for family reasons, there are lots of district tartans and tartans honoring special groups, etc., to choose from. Whatever you tartan you choose to wear, wear it proudly and with respect.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If a non-Scot marries a Scot, it is assumed that he/she becomes a member of the spouse's clan. This clan affiliation is passed down thru the generations until, and unless, their offspring marry into another clan at which point they either assert their allegiance to the clan with which they have been historically affiliated, or they leave that clan and join the clan of their spouse.

In simple terms if Mr. Carrot marries Miss McBain, he and the children of the Carrot McBain marriage are considered McBains. Mr. Carrot is a McBain by marriage, but his children are McBains by blood. Fast forward a few generations and their grand daughter, Jasmine Carrot, marries a Scrimgeour; she and her children are now Scrimgeours. Hop forward a few more generations and the g-g-g-grandson of the Carrot McBain marriage (Hoople Carrot) marries a Wallace. If Mr. Carrot chooses to embrace clan Wallace then he, and the children of his marriage, become Wallaces. On the other hand, he may be perfectly happy as a member of his g-g-g-grandmother's clan (McBain) in which case his children continue in that tradition. (After five generations "Carrot" could, conceivably, become a recognized sept of McBain.)

So, in choosing one's clan affiliation one adopts the clan of the closest Scottish ancestor in lack of any other family tradition. Once one has determined their clan, they should cement that affiliation by joining their clan society, and petitioning the chief of the clan to formally recognize them, and invest them with "all the rights, privileges, and obligations pertaining thereto as if a clansman born."

Hope that explains things...

[MacMillans son]

If a non-Scot marries a Scot, it is assumed that he/she becomes a member of the spouse's clan. This clan affiliation is passed down thru the generations until, and unless, their offspring marry into another clan at which point they either assert their allegiance to the clan with which they have been historically affiliated, or they leave that clan and join the clan of their spouse.

In simple terms if Mr. Carrot marries Miss McBain, he and the children of the Carrot McBain marriage are considered McBains. Mr. Carrot is a McBain by marriage, but his children are McBains by blood. Fast forward a few generations and their grand daughter, Jasmine Carrot, marries a Scrimgeour; she and her children are now Scrimgeours. Hop forward a few more generations and the g-g-g-grandson of the Carrot McBain marriage (Hoople Carrot) marries a Wallace. If Mr. Carrot chooses to embrace clan Wallace then he, and the children of his marriage, become Wallaces. On the other hand, he may be perfectly happy as a member of his g-g-g-grandmother's clan (McBain) in which case his children continue in that tradition. (After five generations "Carrot" could, conceivably, become a recognized sept of McBain.)

So, in choosing one's clan affiliation one adopts the clan of the closest Scottish ancestor in lack of any other family tradition. Once one has determined their clan, they should cement that affiliation by joining their clan society, and petitioning the chief of the clan to formally recognize them, and invest them with "all the rights, privileges, and obligations pertaining thereto as if a clansman born."

Hope that explains things...

Not really MOR, but with all this talk of 'Bains and Carrots I do have a sudden hankerin for some succotash

[McElmurry]

As MoR suggested I went with the first Scottish name on any branch of my tree. In my case this is on my mother's side. I also considered the state of my birth (no...not neckid) Idaho, Ulster for my Irish ancestors, and German-American.

I am not much of a joiner but I did join the Clan Morrison Society of North America just to make things official like and have met some nice folks.

I highly recommend ordering swatches of tartan so you get a good idea what the kilt will look like.

[madmacs]

As MoR suggested historically that's one way you'd have derived clan affiliation...

Another would have been based on the area you lived... If it's Clan X country, you were likely to be Clan X...

Since these types of things largely went out the proverbial window a long time ago however, you'll likely be ok choosing what you prefer... just be sure to have a story to explain it...

[guardsman]

Clark comes under Cameron wings, however how do you choose. I wear what my Paternal family were allowed to wear,Cameron.On my maternal side there is Robertson. Mnay others also. Lots of people go to the nearest Clan relative. Sure to find a strong link that you will like and be proud of and want to wear,the Tartan itself I find secondary.May be better with a district tartan, covers a multitude of sins. Good luck with your investigating your ancestry to find the solution to your question.

[David Thorpe]

...I highly recommend ordering swatches of tartan so you get a good idea what the kilt will look like.

Very good point. Having ordered lengths of several tartans based on computer screen images, I can attest to the fact that "live" tartan is sometimes strikingly different from what you see online. I have been surprised more often than not, but never disappointed.

Turbodog, your choices are even more complicated. There are around a half dozen MacTavish/Thompson tartans -- Red, Blue, Dress Blue, Camel, Grey and Hunting -- all of them beautiful. Some members of our clan association are now in the process of commissioning a limited run of MacTavish/Thompson Hunting in PV. It is quite possibly the oldest of the MacTavish/Thompson setts. Several quite distinct color renderings of the Lindsay sett are also available, as well as a very nice Lindsay Hunting by Batley Mill.
BTW, should you decide to affiliate with Clan MacTavish (Gaelic for the English "Thompson") I would be happy to help. We are a small but very active and supportive clan. If interested, PM me for details.

Excellent illustration, MoR.

[OC Richard]

From my various family lineages I might wear one of the many Stewart or MacDonald tartans, or one of the County Cavan tartans, or one of the Cornish tartans, or the Isle of Arran tartan.

From the places I've lived I might wear the West Virginia tartan, or the California tartan.

But I wear Isle of Skye, and have a kilt almost finished in Auld Scotland. I picked these tartans because I liked the colours in them, and for no other reason.