I do know I have many Hamilton ancestors of Grange, Scotland before they migrated to Charles Co, Maryland a long time ago. They were part of the House of Hamilton, a Lowland clan.

I've searched for the Hamilton tartan, and learned that it was designed to honor Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States Coastal Guard which the Hamilton tartan was also to be known as the USCG tartan. It was registered in 1842. There was no evidence of any Hamilton to wear any tartan before 1842.

My question is.. Since I'm not related to Alexander despite sharing the same surname. So, I shouldn't adopt or at least accept the current Hamilton tartan as part of my family's tartans, right? Yet, on the site for the Hamilton clans. They adopted that USCG tartan while acknowledging our ancestors didn't have a tartan of their owns. I want to be educated on this unique situation.