"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Your position brings to mind the image of an American sports fan, dressed in a jersey of his favorite team. The sports fan isn't actually a member of the team - in most cases he has never even attended the college that the team plays for, but he likes to wear the jersey because (for whatever reason) he feels some sense of identity with that particular ball team, even though he isn't an actual member.

This is actually a more appropriate analogy than you might realize. There is evidence to support the theory that "named tartans" first arose among the Highland regiments. It makes a lot of sense -- the military being dressed in uniforms, which by definition must be uniform (all the same). So the soldiers would be outfitted in the same tartan, which would be the named regimental tartan. Many of the earliest references we have to regulated and named tartan designs are for military regiments.

Now, many of these regiments were closely affiliated with one or more clans. Think of the Black Watch's association with the Campbells, Grants and Munros. Think of the Seaforth's association with clan MacKenzie. The Gordon Highlanders have an obvious association with the Gordon clan.

And the "clan tartans" for each of the above named examples just so happen to have originally been designed for military use by the respective regiments (or, in the case of the Grants and Munros, the hunting tartan for the clan).

My theory is that these tartans came to be regarded as "clan tartans" because they were being worn by people in the clan outside of the military, most likely in a show of support and solidarity for their boys in uniform.

In other words, much like a sports fan may wear the colors of his favorite team, even though he is not actually on the roster.

[BoldHighlander]

My theory is that these tartans came to be regarded as "clan tartans" because they were being worn by people in the clan outside of the military, most likely in a show of support and solidarity for their boys in uniform.

In other words, much like a sports fan may wear the colors of his favorite team, even though he is not actually on the roster.

And Matt, I would add to this theory returning veterans who wore their old regimental kilts as everyday wear out of pride of service & the prestige that came with having served.

One such example is Gregor MacGregor of Balquihidder, Perthshire (below), aged 84, a veteran of the 42nd Highlanders & "habitual kilt wearer" painted about 1812 (though I'll admit, in his case he's wearing a tartan other than Black Watch).

[creagdhubh]

And Matt, I would add to this theory returning veterans who wore their old regimental kilts as everyday wear out of pride of service & the prestige that came with having served.

One such example is Gregor MacGregor of Balquihidder, Perthshire (below), aged 84, a veteran of the 42nd Highlanders & "habitual kilt wearer" painted about 1812 (though I'll admit, in his case he's wearing a tartan other than Black Watch).

What an odd illustration. Kind of creeping me out to be honest!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I am in complete agreement with you on how the notion of named clan tartans first came about, as my own research on the matter has led me to draw the same conclusion. In addition to the Gordon, Campbell and MacKenzie tartans arising from regimental setts, I believe that the tartans worn by the Fraser Highlanders, the Atholl Highlanders, and the MacLeod Highlanders also led to their being worn by the clans Fraser, Murray and MacLeod. John Mackenzie Lord MacLeod may be responsible for the MacKenzies and the MacLeods wearing what was originally the same tartan - the Government sett with buff and red overstripes, worn by the 78th (Seaforth) Highlanders. The tartan worn as hunting Roberston seems to be based on this sett as well.

Yes, I only named but a few of the more prominent examples. The ones you mentioned are other good examples. The tartan known today as Robertson Hunting was originally designed for the Loyal Clan Donnachaidh Volunteers when they were raised in 1803.

In 1816 the chief of the clan regarded this sett as the true clan tartan and submitted it as such to the Highland Society of London for their collection.