Looking for my family's tartan

**canuk** · 14th January 13, 07:11 PM

Hey everyone i'm a new user here so i hope this topic is in the right place! I've recently begun exploring a side of my family that I don't know much about. My Great Great Grand mother's surname was Howatt, her family came to Canada in the early 1900's from the united states but were originally from scotland. I was wanting to learn a little bit more about my scottish ancestry so i did a bit of research online. I'm not entirely sure if it's correct so if anyone could help me out i'd really appreciate it.

I looked up the surname Howatt on Scotclans and this is what it came up with:

http://www.scotclans.com/scottish_clans/clan_macdonald/

When I looked at tartans I found different variations of the Macdonald tartan but nothing specific to my family name.
I was considering buying a kilt one day but I want to make sure the tartan would represent my family. What pattern of tartan should i be looking for?

**Father Bill** · 14th January 13, 07:34 PM

Can't help you with this; our genealogists will be onto this like mice on a cheese. Meanwhile, welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

**David** · 15th January 13, 05:47 AM

Hi canuk, I just had a quick search on the Scotlands People web site for the surname Howatt between 1800 and 1850, and found this;Search results Found Census 1841.Learn more. 50 matches Old Parish Records Births & Christenings 1800 - 1850.Learn more. 69 matches Old Parish Records Banns & Marriages 1800 - 1850.Learn more. 56 matches Old Parish Records Deaths & Burials 1800 - 1850.Learn more. 6 matches Catholic Parish Records Births & Baptisms 1800 - 1850.Learn more. No exact matches Catholic Parish Records Marriages 1800 - 1850.Learn more. No exact matches Catholic Parish Records Deaths & Burials 1800 - 1850.Learn more. No exact matches Catholic Parish Records Other 1800 - 1850.Learn more. No exact matches Wills & Testaments 1800 - 1850.Learn more. 1 match Arms & Heraldry 1800 - 1850.Learn more. 571 matches Registration is free, but looking at the records requires you to have credits available, these are purchased in a normal online transaction. 1 credit = a look at the results page/s, 5 credits = a look at the recordhttp://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/welcome.aspx

**David** · 15th January 13, 05:56 AM

Sorry I cant get the imported data formated to be easy to read

**creagdhubh** · 15th January 13, 06:17 AM

Hi Canuk,

Welcome aboard!

Depending greatly on your family's genealogy and what part of Scotland they actually came from, will determine an appropriate, if not a probable connection to a larger family, or perhaps a Highland clan. It appears that right off the bat, we know that the surname of Howatt is a family name associated with the Clan Donald. This in itself could be a justifiable reason for you to wear the kilt in the Clan Donald tartan (of any colour scheme, i.e. - 'ancient', 'modern', weathered/reproduction, muted, dress, etc) you prefer) and join the Clan Donald (Clan) Association , if you choose to do so of course.

One aspect that is a bit suspect is the fact that aftering consulting the official sept list of the Clan Donald by means of visiting the official website at http://www.clandonald.info/clandonaldnames.html, I did not see Howatt as a surname listed. Is it perhaps an associated name with a branch of the Clan Donald? Or, you could perhaps dig a wee bit deeper and see how far the rabbit hole really goes. Who knows, your further research could reveal other possibilities of Highland clan affiliation through various surnames within your extended family; however, my recommendation would be to follow your paternal line as close as possible, since this is usually the customary and traditional practise within Scotland.

George Fraser Black's, "The Surnames of Scotland" is a great resource for anyone at the beginning of their Scottish genealogical research. I own a copy and can consult it later this evening to see what it says in regards to the surname of Howatt. Best of luck to you, mate. I have been researching my family's Scottish, particularly Highland, genealogy and ancestry for many years now and am still making wonderful discoveries, though now, they are few and far between and I have hit an unfortunate road block, which is almost inevitable in any one's family genealogy. The process, however, is such a delightful thing to experience and can be very rewarding for you, as well as for future generations of your family.

Kind regards,

**Seawolf** · 15th January 13, 07:05 AM

Ceud mìle fàilte! A thousand welcomes!

Good luck with your tartan research.

Seawolf

**mookien** · 15th January 13, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by canuk

... I was considering buying a kilt one day but I want to make sure the tartan would represent my family. What pattern of tartan should i be looking for?

Before you answer that question I suggest you obtain a copy of "Tartan for Me" by Dr. Philip D. Smith in at least the "Expanded Ninth Edition". It is available in lots of places - the web, at any Scottish games, etc. It maps thousands of surnames, including Howatt, to specific tartans or districts.

Resist the temptation to only look at the names and corresponding tartans. Instead, read the excellent introductory chapters that provide valuable context and describe the limitations on the authenticity of any such source.

It indeed maps Howat(t) to MacDonald, while mapping (recommending) Howatson and Hewat to district tartans, and Hewitt, and Hewett to district tartans or the Hewett tartan. Whew! Enjoy your search.

**ThistleDown** · 15th January 13, 06:16 PM

Welcome, Canuk, from Inverness-shire and British Columbia. You are being given some very good advice from creagdhubh, mookien, yodofizzy and David.

**TheOfficialBren** · 16th January 13, 02:27 AM

I will second the advice offered here. ThistleDown and several othershave been helping me to clear the air in my own geneological pursuits. My father's family is partly of Scots and partly of Anglo-Norman descent with possible Lowland connections (though there may be some Irish connections, too). Dad's mother was a Shaw, and before the big ride over the pond very possibly originating from Inverness-shire or several other places (possibly lowland, even).
Mum's family are English.

At first, I felt a bit conflicted about sporting the tartan of a clan that I may or may not have geneological links to. My connections to the Highlands are tenuous, at best, to be honest...however, also knowing the truth about the history of tartan can be pretty enlightening and (in my case) a bit relieving.

If you aren't aware (and, experts PLEASE feel free to correct any of my mistakes here) tartans were seldom "clan-affiliated" prior to the 1700s...even then only scarecely. During the early 1800s there was a movement called the "highland revival." King George IV elected to visit the Highlands and wanted a bit of a show about it. Sir Walter Scott and several others sought to ingratiate themselves with the king and started throwing tartan about, largely arbitrarily. The clan chiefs, by that time largely symbolic and landed gentry, went along with the whole thing. The weavers wanted to turn a profit on this new fashion frenzy. Chiefs started adopting tartan designs that they admired and kitting up in kilts that they otherwise might not have worn...or in some cases might not have even purchased for the occasion.

The King's visit was a massive success. Highland culture was the "in" thing. Tartans were "official" with the blessing of the chiefs and the otherwise (my apologies if this sounds insensitive or in accurate) apathetic clansmen were empowered by the rebranding of the Highland identity.

Weavers started stcking up on essential tartans from the most distinguished families (Stewart, Douglas, Campbell, MacDonald, et cetera) and selling it in their shops. The trend increased during the reign of Queen Victoria (r. 1837-1901).

People wanted to be up with the latest trend (not romantic, but a bit of truth there). Kilts increased from the arguably more traditional 4 or 5 yard kilt (what we might call the casual kilt today) to the posh and fashionable 8 yard kilt (what we might call formal today). The notion of family-specific tartans is a relatively new concept that *became* a tradition many years after the collapse of the clan system.

My point is this: if you wish to honour your heritage by wearing the kilt then wear your kilt with pride. The symbolism behind the tartan is just that...symbolism. More importantly, I think, than selecting one hard-to-find or out-of-reach tartan is to find one that you are comfortable with and that has some meaning to you.

From experience, since I am a young man and must be mindful of my spending and as a compromise I choose to stick mainly with universal (no clan affiation) tartans for now until I can afford a finely crafted, completely bespoke (custom made, custom pleated, all the extras and the kitchen sink) kilt in my family's tartan (since it is a difficult tartan and always adds an extra lot of cash to the price). I want to celebrate my family's heritage in the most respectful manner possible.

The kilt was historically a Highland...not a Lowland...garment that down through the centuries has come to represent the whole of Scotland. In the coming centuries, much to the chagrin of the Highlanders (my humblest apologies, gentlemen) it may become a pan-British ethnic garment (sorry, folks, there is a big nugget of truth there). Regions with no historical kilt-wearing tradition are seeing decent kilt sales (Cornwall, for example).

No other ethnic garment is as widely recognised globally as the Scottish kilt.

Kilts *are* a cultural icon and that deserves respect...but they are not the Holy Grail, either. They were practical, everyday garments that men worked in, lived in, and died in.

Whatever you choose, my friend, choose what your heart tells you and never apologise for that. Some folks get their knickers in a bind over a lot of fuss. Others are extremely liberal in their pursuit of all things tartan.

Be proud and be your own man with your kilt...and the number one rule...no photos or it didn't happen.

;-)

(apologies for rambling)