Clan tartan

[Steve Ashton]

Yes, possibly, if they are from the area around Oban.

Please be very careful about the so called "Sept Lists". Many are totally bogus. Very few are compiled by the Clan Chief and each Chief may decide for their own what and who they accept. And they have been known to change their minds or reverse a previous Chief's lists.

This stuff is not as cut and dry as some would wish it to be. It is far less about what last name you carry. It is much more about where, the area, that your people come from.

The vast majority of Scots are not, and never were, within or under the Highland Clan system.

[BrianHK]

I am no expert, and as an American whose Scottish antecedents are on the female side of the family my opinions are suspect anyway , but my understanding is that Gov't No. 1 (current tartan of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, derived from the original Black Watch) is considered a universal tartan, and can be worn by anyone. I could be wrong, but I heard this here years ago.

I also remember seeing someone post a story about how HM George V once said that tartan was about clan and family, and since he considered the British people his family he was of the opinion that any Briton who could claim no tartan of his own could wear Royal Stewart as a member of his extended family. By extension, one would assume anyone with British ancestry would be similarly entitled.

Of course, on this side of the Pond you can probably get away with wearing whatever you'd like.