Looks like Blackwatch?

**BonnieT100** · 4th December 07, 03:09 AM

A girl in my pipeband - ok, really, the pipeband where I was learning before I headed out - says her family tartan is the Blackwatch. Now, this seems a bit strange to me. Is it possible to have the government tartan as a family tartan? I don't know her surname, otherwise I could look it up myself.

**Mike S** · 4th December 07, 03:14 AM

Sutherland and Campbell, among other clans, claim Blackwatch or a derivative there of as a clan tartan.

**macwilkin** · 4th December 07, 04:27 AM

As Mike mentioned, several clans, including the Sutherlands, Grants, Munros and Campbells use the Black Watch/Government Sett as a clan tartan.

And the tartan's name is always two words -- Black Watch -- the other name of the Royal Highland Regiment.

Regards,

Todd

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 4th December 07, 05:53 AM

As far as I know only the Campbells, Munros and Grants use the Black Watch as a clan tartan. The Black Watch is used as the Sutherland district tartan (the tartan for the region of Sutherland), but the Sutherland clan tartan is a different design.

**macwilkin** · 4th December 07, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

As far as I know only the Campbells, Munros and Grants use the Black Watch as a clan tartan. The Black Watch is used as the Sutherland district tartan (the tartan for the region of Sutherland), but the Sutherland clan tartan is a different design.

Thanks, Matt, for the clarification.

T.

**BonnieT100** · 4th December 07, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the responses everyone.

**Mike S** · 4th December 07, 04:39 PM

Double post.

**Mike S** · 4th December 07, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

As far as I know only the Campbells, Munros and Grants use the Black Watch as a clan tartan. The Black Watch is used as the Sutherland district tartan (the tartan for the region of Sutherland), but the Sutherland clan tartan is a different design.

Technically you are indeed correct. However "unorthodox", Sutherland clansmen/women are not loathe to wear the Black Watch as a clan tartan (besides the usual red and white overstriped clan tartan, as in my avatar), as well as the pre amalgamation A&S Highlanders lighter shade Sutherland tartan. Regarding the former Tartan, the chicken or the egg conundrum comes into play with the famous MacIan "Sutherland Clan" print.

We Sutherlands tend to view Sutherland County and the 93rd Reg. as our own in more than namesake, don't you know.

**Oldhiker** · 4th December 07, 08:07 PM

I like to think that the Black Watch and those other clans copied from the Lamont tartan

Matt tends to disagree..... OK so he is one the experts on here but it is my fantasy

Facts may prove me wrong, you can always tell a Scot but you can't tell him much. Dont confuse me with the facts

**macwilkin** · 4th December 07, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhiker

I like to think that the Black Watch and those other clans copied from the Lamont tartan

Matt tends to disagree..... OK so he is one the experts on here but it is my fantasy

Facts may prove me wrong, you can always tell a Scot but you can't tell him much. Dont confuse me with the facts

Sorry...but Matt is correct.

The clan tartans owe much to the regimental tartans; if you don't believe me, take a look at where the Camerons, Gordons and Mackenzies all got their tartans. :mrgreen:

T.