tartans

[arrogcow]

Very few clan tartans were actually created by the clans. Most were named by the weavers who created them, and just given names to give them names.


I have worn a Montgomery Tank for years, and have no connectin to Clan Montgomery at all. However, now that I am a full time kilt wearer (mostly UK's) I would like a kilt that I do have some (however tenuous) connection to. My most receint kilt is a generic tartan (Braveheart), and there are dozens of those out there that you can choose from.

However, I have been working on my own tartan, and in the next year I intend to try and talk to members of Duke (my last name) geanological societies (mom's in contact with a bunch) and see it there is any interest in several people actually buying enough fabric to make the price worth while, and at the same time register a "Duke/Dukes" tartan as our own.

Adam

[GlassMan]

While my favorite kilt is my Ancient MacKay both because it's my Clan tartan and because it's got my favorite colors in it. (By an odd coincidence I have always liked a particular shade of blue and of green, and it turns out that those exact colors are also the predominant colors in the Ancient MacKay! Who'd have thought that a tartan could be genetic!)

However, I also frequently wear a Cunningham in honor of my Grandmother's clan and also because it has the same colors as my old Fire Department colors.

Personally, I stick with tartans with which I have some connection or which are general tartans, but that's might change as I increase my kilt collection.

And as for not being a part of a particular Clan by name or by Sept, consider this. Septs of a clan came about by individuals of no blood relation placing themselves under the protection of a Clan, or by swearing fealty to the Chief.

Theoretically, you could still use that Medieval method if you feel that you absolutely, positively must have some kind of connection to the MacKays before you can wear our tartans.

I would say to try contacting Lord Raey (Chief of the MacKay Clan) but recently the MacKay Clan Association of the US (http://www.clanmackayusa.org/) tried to get his permission to register a new Dress MacKay tartan for the use of the entire Clan and he never responded. So instead it is now being registered as a proprietary tartan of the US MacKay Clan Association.

[Robin]

I do not know what Dutch tartans are.

Tartans designed for the Dutch...people from the Netherlands aka Holland.

Those are 100% "safe" for me...after all...I'm Dutch :grin:

[GlassMan]

Dutch MacKay isn't just paying tribute. Mackays were received into the Dutch Nobility and the Dutch MacKay is the tartan of that branch of the clan.

[Robin]

I know...that's why the Dutch MacKay isn't on my wish list. The Dutch MacKay is for the nobility only.

2 other Dutch tartans...Prince of Orange #1 and #2. I guess they're designed for our royal family...not sure though....anyway...I'm not a prince, so wearing them would be rather silly.

[GlassMan]

You could always see about getting a job with any surviving members of that branch and then wear it as a loyal retainer! ;)

[Sherry]

It used to be said it was bad luck to wear a Tartan thats not "yours" Being of Irish descent gives you a massive scope of designs. Black watch is commonly known as a "free" Tartan and can be worn be anyone. some Stuart Tartans have some sectarian issues attached to them and Celtic/Rangers Tartan would single you out for a "kicking" in some parts of the west side. My favourite "Free" Tartan is "Flower of Scotland"

here it is modelled by myself

I like it too, Daz. It was modeled after the Gunn Ancient tartan because that's what Roy Williamson wore.

Sherry

[Owl of Oban]

A good question and one that has about as many answers as respondents.

Several folks here have said it best, wear the tartan you like (as long as it's not proscribed, and most aren't) and make the effort to learn a bit about the family or region it represents.

My folk likely came from lowland Scotland, ended up in Virginia at the end of the 17th century and have no tartan of their own. I could wear general tartans and there are several I'd love to have.
However, I've chosen to have our own M.A.C. Newsome (http://albanach.org/) design a tartan for my surname to honor my ancestors. It will be a 'personal' tartan and as such will be available for any to wear. As the 'owner' of the tartan, I'd be honored if anyone had a kilt made in it and learned a bit about my family. I suspect most clan chiefs feel the same way.....but that's my opinion.

Enjoy!

[macwilkin]

I'm not sure where this idea that the Dutch Mackay tartan is for Dutch nobility only, or that it belongs to a Dutch branch of the clan alone. According to Phillip Smith and Gordon Teal's "District Tartans", The Dutch Mackay tartan was designed by one John Cargill for the Scottish Tartans Society in 1965 to honour Baron Aeneas Mackay, who was Prime Minister of the Netherlands in the 1880's. Baron Mackay was the grandfather of Lord Reay, who was the Chief of the Mackays. It was also designed in honour of the Mackay Regiment, which fought for the Dutch in the Thirty Year's War, and General Hugh Mackay, who was a general in the army of William of Orange. Baron Hugo Mackay was a Dutch Submarine commander during the Second World War.

Whilst the tartan was designed in honour of Dutch nobility, and the Mackays that served and in some cases immigrated to the Netherlands, no where is it implied that this is a restricted tartan to only members of the Dutch nobility or for Dutch Mackays only.

In a similar vein, the Prince of Orange tartan, is a commemorative tartan of an individual, in this case, William, Prince of Orange, and is not restricted to only the Dutch royal family. In fact, according to Zaczek's "World Tartans", it was designed in Canada and is a modern trade tartan for "clients with Scottish and Dutch connections".

There are a number of "personal" tartans of royal personages that are worn by anyone; for example, the Duke of Fife tartan has now become the Fife District tartan. The Earl of St. Andrew's tartan, which was designed for the Duke of Kent (and Earl of St. Andrew) in the 1930's has also become a district tartan as well.

Regards,

Todd

[Robin]

Good reading!

Thanks Cajunscot!