Tartan to Wear

[CarolinaTate]

Been investigating my Scottish background and picking a tartan. I know there's no "tartan police" (though I'd pay to see one, haha) but I'd like to be at least someone in line.

I am a grandson of a Curry from North Florida (via S. Al, S. GA, and Bertie County, NC as far back as I can go). I see the Curry family listed under Currie, MacPhee, MacPherson, and MacDonald of Clanranald. I haven't gotten past Bertie, NC in my genealogy search (don't know for sure if my family is Scottish, Irish, English, or Scots-Irish), so do I just pick the one I like best?

John

[Tarheel]

Well met John. Read and reread the genealogy sections of indentured servants and the ship manifests during the 1700's. That may help you find the entry point of your folks to the US. Then a tartan will be easier to pick. That doesn't have to be the only reason to have a kilt. You may find yourself drawn to some other pattern that personally defines to you. Welcome to the site from a native Carolinian.

[Liam]

You will find different opinions here regarding wearing of a clan kilt with or without a clan affiliation. My own opinion is that if you have an obvious clan affiliation that means something to you then go for it. If not there are any number of district and non-clan affiliated tartans you can choose from. Use the search feature here and this topic has been covered many, many times. USAkilts have just come up with a new line of State tartans.

[rmccool]

If not there are any number of district and non-clan affiliated tartans you can choose from. Use the search feature here and this topic has been covered many, many times. USAkilts have just come up with a new line of State tartans.

Indeed. There is also an officially recognized Carolina tartan that's quite handsome.

[Sample m]

Welcome from a macfee from chicago. Great to have you here.

[Liam]

Indeed. There is also an officially recognized Carolina tartan that's quite handsome.

Indeed, and designed by Xmarker Figheadair (Peter MacDonald) in 1981.

[Taskr]

Hello, John and welcome
there are a few, if not many, threads here discussing the whys of choosing and wearing a particular tartan. If the family connection you've determined is comfortable for you cognitively, then it should be equally comfortable to wear. I take the advice on state and other such tartans as sage also. I wear my mother's tartan in my 8yd trad. Was my first and made for a particular event in her honour. Some might disagree regarding wear of a maternal tartan. I'm ok with it because I know why. My casual kilt is of no family connection. I would recommend being relatively specific though, since once you start wearing one you may find yourself buying many more kilts than you had planned on (my list, pared down, is now at the top three of 'more than a few')

[sbevans]

Welcome from Illinois. I too had difficulty in deciding on which tartan for my first kilt. Like many, I had connections with multiple clan/family tartans. In my case, I went with a universal tartan (Celtic Nations), because it spoke to my heritage (Welsh/Scottish). So my advice to you would be if you can't decide, think about which tartan would have special meaning to you. I hope this helps.

[Tasty Rabbit]

My Scottish side is traced as Scottish yet it's one of those family names who have no tartan so I've been wearing the Pennsylvania tartan lately because I'm from PA & my lady liked it . If you don't go with the Curry tartans there are plenty of non clan tartans that may speak to you on another level or you just like the look of .

[XenaTuba]

I am reading this with interest as well; I have a very muddled mixed ancestry of Irish/Scots/Welsh not of any nobility whatsoever in it, and I cannot trace the Irish or Welsh to any particular region. I have always liked Black Watch, and in doing some research have determined that someone who was an overnight patrolman for the county for most of a 26 year patrol career might find that a good match.