ok i've got a question now

[kiltted_lad]

im confused which side of the family (fathers or mothers) am i supposed to follow to find my tartan?

[bjproc]

both, your choice though, i'd choose your family name first

[Paul Henry]

You can follow whichever side you like, or whichever side you can find a link with, or whichever side you find a tartan that you like, or wherever geographically they lived, or...whichever tartan you like!!

[sirdaniel1975]

Which ever you like. Some will wave an invisible book in your face and say "Your Father's!"

Remember, Rob Roy MacGregor actually went by his mothers name of Campbell most of his life because the name Gregor was outlawed. I suspect this was common more often than is known. I'm a aware of two other clans that had their names outlawed. Gunn & MacFarlane. Both of which were forced to move to new territory for various reasons. For the Gunn's do to their lawlessness of continued conflicts, mostly with the Keith's of the north. The MacFarlanes, it was related to their cattle thieving and conflicts with the Buchanan's and Colquhoun's.

A little side note, the Chief for the Gunn's at this time was a MacRob/Robson. I thought I'd throw that out there because I know there has been much debate here at this forum as to why there are so many surnames listed under the Clan Gunn sept list.

[beloitpiper]

Traditionally it has been your father's side. But don't let that stop you from choosing any tartan you want!

[kiltted_lad]

thank you again guys

[northernsky]

Mother's, father's, friend's, the one you like, whatever works for you. I have both my mother's and father's and one I just like..

[sharpdressedscot]

Either, but since my father's is Irish and my mother's Scottish I chose the latter.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Generally you would wear your father's tartan, but not always. The Earl of Erroll's last name is Hay, and his brother's last name is Moncreiff. Why's that? Sir Iain Moncrieff of that Ilk married the Countess of Erroll. When their first son was born he took his mother's last name (Hay) and in the fullness of time became the Earl of Erroll. The second son of Sir Iain and the Countess of Erroll took his father's last name (Moncrieff) and, again in the fullness of time, succeeded to the Chiefship of the Moncrieffs.

Heraldic practice admits the theory of "descent is descent"-- hence name and arms clauses being part of the laws of inhetitance. So, if you do not have a a Scottish last name you would be perfectly within your rights to adopt the surname of your nearest Scottish progenitor, and wear that tartan.

Of course you could to exactly the same thing without a change of name-- and if asked, just reply that you are descended from "Clan X".

[Nick the DSM]

Don't matter, both is fine.