A comprehensive list of the available tartans is located in our NEW image gallery. Please CLICK HERE to see the AMAZING variety of colors and patterns that are available...

Once you select your favorite tartan, this is an example of what your Partan(TM) could look like...just imagine how unique and attractive a similar PERSONALIZED design would look under YOUR putter or full-swing golf grip!

(Or what a great, unique gift this would make for a friend or relative who plays golf!)


How do I choose my family or clan tartan?

The first thing to know is that there is no law that you must wear a kilt only in your own tartan. Most people prefer a family tartan for reasons of tradition. But if you can't find one you like, there are many alternatives .

To find your family tartans , many search engines will help you find your family or clan tartan. Unless your name is fairly common, and spelled in the most orthodox way, the chances are that you may not find a tartan under the exact same name. Don't worry! The spelling of names was only recently formalized, and names mutated as members migrated. So many spelling variations exist for the same family name. It's still the same family by blood, so don't get hung up on spelling. A list of names and associated clans can be found here and here.

Also, Scottish clans have a tradition of ‘ Septs ' which are other families by descent or alliance to whom a clan gave protection. If your family name appears as a Sept or * variant spelling * of one of the official clans, it conventionally entitles you to wear their tartan . It might do no harm to try keying in alternative spellings of your family names.

It is also common to choose a tartan derived not with your ‘current' surname, but perhaps with your mother's maiden name, or that of another forebear such as a grandparent. Or you might choose to select the tartan from a member of your partner's lineage instead. We would encourage you to look widely, and choose a pattern that is not just historically ‘correct' but also pleasing to you!

Irish tartans are also available for Irish surnames, and those of Italian heritage have a couple of options available here and here.

People of German heritage have tartans, as do people from France!

Finally, Universal tartans have been designed for use by anyone, and offer an attractive assortment of tartan designs.

The ten most common Scottish surnames (according to the 2000 US Census) are:

Top 10 tartan names:

1. Smith
2. Brown
3. Wilson
4. Thompson
5. Roberts
6. Campbell
7. Stewart
8. Anderson
9. MacDonald
10. Scott

:
The IRISH DISTRICT (County) tartans are some of the most BEAUTIFUL tartans available - many Scottish names are also associated with the IRISH COUNTIES* - do a search on this page to find YOUR name - many surnames are associated with more than one IRISH County tartan - names with numbers are MORE CLOSELY associated with that district - choose the color scheme that you like best!

* The Scottish tartan authority formally named these tartans as "Irish District" tartans, even though they're more commonly known as Irish Counties.

The table below shows the family names associated with the Irish Counties, as taken from the 1890 Census. The most popular names are indicated with the number of families with that surname in the (parentheses).

COUNTY ANTRIM: County Antrim - Aiken, Bell, Bissett, Boyd (81), Brown (82), Burns, Campbell (96), Craig, DeBurgo, DeCourcy, DeLacy, Diamond, Donnelan, Dunluce, Ferguson, Dugan, Earle, Graham (64), Greene, Hall, Hamill, Hamilton (50), Hession, Hoctor, Johnston (126), Kerr (60), Law, Lacy, Lynch, Magee, MacAlister, MacClean, MacCleary, MacCracken, MacCully, MacCurdy, MacDonagall, MacDonnell, MacDougal, MacGee, MacGuigan, MacIntee, MacKeon, MacKinley, MacLaughlin, MacNally, MacNeill, MacNellis, MacQuillan, Martin (61), Maxwell, Miller (86), Moore (96), Murboly, O'Criodan, O'Eric, O'Flynn, O'Furry, O'Hamill, O'Hannon, O'Hara, O'Hood, O'Kane, O'Keevan, O'Kernaghan, O'Lavery, O'Lynn, O'Mulholland, O'Neill (98), O'Quinn, O'Shiel, Quillan, Reid (63), Riordan, Robinson (89), Scott (66), Smith (134), Stewart (126), Thompson (101), Toome, Wallace, Welsh, Williamson, Wilson (119).

County Armagh: County Armagh - Callan, Campbell (42), Cowell, Daly, Donnelly (28), Heir, Hughes (47), Johnston (25), Keady, Kelly (25), Lappin, Lundy, MacAlinden, MacBarron, MacCann (29), MacCone, MacCourt, MacEntee, MacEvoy, MacGivern, MacNally, MacPartlan, MacVeagh, Moyry, Murphy (50), O'Branagan, O'Callan, O'Cloonan, O'Colgan, O'Donnegan, O'Duvany, O'Garvey, O'Hanlon, O'Hanratty, O'Hare (37), O'Heavy, O'Heir, O'Heron, O'Keelaghan, O'Keiran, O'Kernaghan, O'Langan, O'Larkin, O'Loughran, O'Marron, O'Mulcreevy, O'Neill, O'Neilland, O'Neylan, O'Rogan, O'Tierney, Price, Quinn (26), Shannon, Small, Smith (31), Thompson (23), Watson (28), Wilson (45).

County Carlow: County Carlow - Brennan (24), Butler, Byrne (33), Carew, Cheevers, Cooke, Doyle (32), Eustace, Fitzgerald, Fortune, Kavanagh (14), Kelly (15), Kinsella, Leighlan, Lombard, MacMurrough, McDonald (15), Mullins, Murphy (41), Neill (27), Nolan (28), O'Bolger, O'Cahill, O'Cavanaugh, O'Doyle, O'Esmond, O'Flynn, O'Gahan, O'Gorman, O'Kelly, O'Kinsellagh, O'Murphy, O'Nolan, O'Ryan, O'Shea, O'Toole, Ryan (10), Strongbow, Tallon, Wall, Whelan (12).

County Cavan: County Cavan - Brady (85), Clarke (30), Curry, Dolan (18), Donohoe (17), Fagan, Farrelly (29), Fitzpatrick (19), Fitzsimmon, Fleming, Flood, Gaffney, Galligan (20), Hull, Keene, Lloyd, Lynch (51), MacAtilla, MacBrady, MacCabe (36), MacDonald, MacEnteggart, MacGafney, MacGargen, MacGauran, MacGavan, MacGovern (18), MacGowan, MacGranan, MacGraw, MacHugh, MacIlduff, MacKiernan, MacNulty, MacSharry, MacTiernan, MacTully, Maguire (26), Martin (15), Masterson, McMahon (15), O'Brady, O'Brogan, O'Carolan, O'Clery, O'Conaghty, O'Coyle, O'Curry, O'Daly, O'Dolan, O'Donohoe, O'Drum, O'Farrelly, O'Gibney, O'Mulleady, O'Mulligan, O'Mulmoher, O'Murray, O'Reilly, O'Sheridan, Plunkett, Reilly (137), Riley, Sheridan (26), Smith (108).

County Clare: County Clare - Boland, Brady, Bryant, Burke, Clancy (21), Clohessy, Cotter, Cullen, Cusack, DeClare, Deegan, Devin, Dillon, Ennis, Ferguson, Fitzpatrick, Gallery, Griffin (27), Griffith, Harte, Henchy, Keane (33), Kelly (38), Kilroy, Kincora, Kitson, Lynch (22), MacBrodin, MacBrody, MacCanny, MacCarrigy, MacClancy, MacClune, MacConsidine, MacCurtin, MacDonnell, MacEncroe, MacEnright, MacGillereagh, MacGorman, MacGrath, MacInerney (39), MacKeane, MacLysaght, MacMahon (74), MacNamara (61), MacNestor, MacSheedy, MacSweeney, Minogue, Moloney (61), Mullens, Mulqueen, Murphy (29), O'Aherne, O'Boland, O'Brady, O'Brien (47), O'Breen, O'Callaghan, O'Carmody, O'Clohessy, O'Connell, O'Conor, O'Conran, O'Considine, O'Creagh, O'Cullenan, O'Culligan, O'Curran, O'Curry, O'Daly, O'Davoran, O'Day, O'Dea, O'Deegan, O'Dermody, O'Donnell, O'Dorman, O'Drinan, O'Durack, O'Felan, O'Flahavan, O'Flattery, O'Flynn, O'Galvin, O'Geary, O'Gorman, O'Grady, O'Griffey, O'Grotty, O'Halloran (26), O'Hally, O'Hanrahan, O'Haren, O'Heffernan, O'Hehir, O'Hickey, O'Hogan, O'Holloran, O'Honeen, O'Howley, O'Kearney, O'Keeley, O'Kennedy, O'Kenny, O'Kett, O'Liddy, O'Loughlin, O'Maloney, O'Markahan, O'Meehan, O'Melody, O'Minogue, O'Molony, O'Morony, O'Mullany, O'Mullens, O'Mulvey, O'Mulvile, O'Naughton, O'Neill, O'Neylan, O'Nihil, O'Quilligan, O'Quinlevan, O'Quinn, O'Reddan, O'Regan, O'Shanahan, O'Slattery, O'Tyne, Phillips, Reidy, Ryan (23), Spellman, Sullivan.

County Cork: County Cork - Ahern, Barnewall, Barrett, Barry (108), Beal, Bear, Buckley (100), Cagney, Carrigan, Casey, Clayton, Clancy, Coakley, Coffey, Collins (115), Commiskey, Condon, Connell (109), Coppinger, Deasy, DeCarew, DeCogan, DeCourcey, Desmond, Dunhoy, Egan, Fitzgerald (81), Fitzgibbon, Gogan, Gould, Haley, Harrington (82), Healy, Hickey, Hodnett, Hogan, Holland, Keely, Kent, Kidney, Lombard, Lucey, Lynch, Lyons, MacAuliffe MacCarthy (277), MacClancy, MacCorcoran, MacCormack, MacCotter, MacDonough, MacElroy, MacSheehy, MacSherry, MacSweeney, Mahoney (193), Murphy (390), Nagle, Nugent, O'Baire, O'Barry, O'Begley, O'Bogue, O'Bohane, O'Bradley, O'Brien (139), O'Broder, O'Cagney, O'Callaghan (134), O'Callinan, O'Canty, O'Casey, O'Coffey, O'Coleman, O'Collins, O'Connor (91), O'Corry, O'Coughlan, O'Cowhig, O'Creagh, O'Cremin, O'Cromley, O'Cronin (102), O'Crowley (116), O'Cullen, O'Cullinane, O'Curry, O'Daly (97), O'Danaher, O'Dea, O'Deasey, O'Dennery, O'Dinane, O'Dineen, O'Doheny, O'Donegan, O'Donovan (182), O'Doorly, O'Dowling, O'Driscoll (110), O'Duane, O'Dugan, O'Falvey, O'Fihelly, O'Flynn, O'Gavan, O'Grotty, O'Halahan, O'Hallissey, O'Hanvy, O'Hartigan, O'Hartnett, O'Hea, O'Healy, O'Hennessy, O'Hennigan, O'Herlihy, O'Heyne, O'Hingerdill, O'Hogan, O'Hooney, O'Horan, O'Horgan, O'Horlihy, O'Houlahan, O'Hurley (86), O'Kearny, O'Keeffe (84), O'Kieran, O'Kelleher (92), O'Leahy, O'Leary (134), O'Lehane, O'Looney, O'Long, O'Lornasey, O'Mahony, O'Morony, O'Moynihan, O'Mullane, O'Murphy, O'Neill (75), O'Noonan, O'Quinnelly, O'Regan, O'Riordan (94), O'Ronayne, O'Rynne, O'Scanlan, O'Scannell, O'Shea, O'Shelly, O'Sullivan (418), O'Tuohy, O'Tuomey, Ormonde, Regan (85), Roche, Sarsfield, Shanley, Shannon, Sheedy, Sheehan (97), Sherry, Skiddy, Supple, Tobin, Tracey, Wallace, Walsh (143).

County Derry: County Derry - Allen, Bradley (40), Brown (36), Campbell (33), Doherty (80), Dungiven, Gallagher (23), Kane (26), Kelly (50), Maginn, Mulhall, Mulhallan, Mullan or Mullen (33), MacCloskey (36), MacColgan, MacConnell, MacCracken, MacCrilly, MacDonald, MacDonnell, MacGilligan, MacGurk, McLaughlin (68), MacLoughlin, MacNamee, MacRory, MacTaggart, Moore (25), O'Brolchan, O'Cahan, O'Carolan, O'Cassidy, O'Connelan, O'Connor, O'Corr, O'Deery, O'Devlin, O'Dimond, O'Freel, O'Hagarty, O'Henry, O'Kane, O'Keenan, O'Kelly, O'Loan, O'Mullan, O'Mullhollan, O'Mulligan, O'Mulvenna, O'Murray, O'Neill (29), O'Quig, O'Quigley, O'Quinn, O'Rafferty, O'Scullion, Smith (31).

County Donegal: County Donegal - Banach, Blake, Bodkin, Boyle (102), Browne, Campbell (28), Culmore, Curran, Crowe, Doherty (160), Donegan, Duffy (33), Duvan, Early, Fay, Gallagher (196), Hayes, Hegarty, Kelly (37), MacBride, MacClean, MacCloskey, MacCool, MacCoyle, MacCrossan, MacDannett, MacDavett, MacDevitt, MacDonlevy, MacDuvan, MacFadden (33), MacGettigan, MacGilbride, MacGillespie, McGinley (37), MacGinty, MacGlinchy, MacGonical, MacGowan (33), MacGrath, MacHugh, MacIntyre, MacKeogh, McLaughlin (81), MacLoughlin, MacMenamin, MacNelis, MacNulty, MacRoarty, MacSweeney, MacTeague, MacWard, Morrison, Murray, O'Begley, O'Boyle, O'Bradley, O'Breslin, O'Brien, O'Brodar, O'Brolloghan, O'Cannon, O'Cannanan, O'Clary, O'Coigley, O'Cormley, O'Coyle, O'Crean, O'Curran, OO'Dallaghan, O'Darnun, O'Dermond, O'Derry, O'Devir, O'Doherty, O'Donlen, O'Donlevy, O'Donnell (102), O'Donnelly, O'Dooyarma, O'Dornin, O'Dorrian, O'Doyle, O'Duffy, O'Farranan, O'Farren, O'Friel, O'Gallagher, O'Gormley, O'Hagerty, O'Harkin, O'Hugh, O'Kenny, O'Kernaghan, O'Larly, O'Laverty, O'Leaney, O'Lynchy, O'Mooney, O'Muldorry, O'Mulgee, O'Mulhall, O'Mullhollan, O'Mulligan, O'Mulvaney, O'Neill, O'Pattan, O'Quinlan, O'Quinn, O'Rafferty, O'Roarty, O'Roddy, O'Sheeran, O'Shiel, O'Shryhane, O'Tarcert, O'Toner, Ross, Sweeney (50), Ward (40)

County Down: County Down - Andley, Arthur, Bell (27), Black, Boyd (25), Brown (31), Campbell (45), Carlan, Cormac, Cooper, Copeland, DeBurgho, DeConway, DeCourcy, DeLacy, Dromore, Fitzsimmon, Fullerton, Garvey, Gillespie, Gilmore, Graham (34), Hamilton (28), Johnston (34), Jordan, Lynch, MacArthur, MacCartan, MacClean, MacDunlevy, MacGilmore, MacGinnis, MacGivern, MacGowan, MacGuinness, MacMurray, MacRory, Mandeville, Martell, Martin (35), Murray (33), O'Colgan, O'Colter, O'Cormack, O'Devaney, O'Donegan, O'Gowan, O'Hanvey, O'Hoey, O'Kelly, O'Lavery, O'Lawlor, O'Lawry, O'Lonegan, O'Loughman, O'Macken, O'Mahon, O'Moore, O'Moran, O'Mulcreevy, O'Mulligan, O'Neill, O'Rogan, O'Rooney, Patrick, Pattan, Patterson (45), Riddell, Robinson (29), Russell, Savage, Scott (27), Smith (53), Smyth, Staunton, Thompson (55), Ward, White, Wilson (35).

County Dublin: County Dublin - Bagott, Brady (52), Buckley, Burnell, Butler, Byrne (301), Carroll (71), Cheevers, Connor (82), Corrigan, Cowell, Cruise, Cullen (62), Curley, Delohoyde, Dunne (93), Fagan, Farrell (73), Fitzsimon, Fitzwilliam, Fullam, Golden, Gray, Hagerty, Harold, Heffernan, Kavanagh (97), Kelly (194), Kennedy (51), Keogh (60), Lawrence, Luttrell, MacGoullamaho, Moore (63), Murray (60), Nolan (89), O'Brien (105), O'Casey, O'Hennessy, O'Kelly, O'Neill (93), O'Ronan, O'Rooney, O'Toole, Plunkett, Preston, Reilly (93), Reynolds, Ryan (65), Sarsfield, Segrave, Smith (106), Swords, Talbot, Taylor, Tyrell, Walsh (77), Whelan (59).

County Fermanagh: County Fermanagh - Beatty, Cassidy (17), Corry, Devenish, Devine, Dolan (23), Elliott (13), Fitzpatrick (10), Flanagan (10), Gallagher (11), Graham, Irvine (13), Johnston (22), Kerr, Leonard, MacAlinion, MacAuley, MacCaffrey, MacCorry, MacCosker, MacDonnell, MacEnteggart, MacGarrahan, MacGillinen, MacGilroy, MacGoldrick, MacGuire or Maguire (44), McGovern (23), MacGuishenan, McHugh (20), MacKiernan, MacLennon, McLoughlin (12), MacManus (30), MacQuaide, MacTiernan, MacTully, MacWard, Magrath, Mason, McCoy, Murphy (11), O'Bannon, O'Breslin, O'Brien, O'Casey, O'Cassidy, O'Coigley, O'Connolly, O'Corcoran, O'Corrigan, O'Devine, O'Divilly, O'Donnegan, O'Felan, O'Flanagan, O'Gorman, O'Gormican, O'Heaney, O'Hosey, O'Hussey, O'Keenan, O'Lennon, O'Linnegar, O'Muldoon, O'Mulrooney, O'Scanlan, O'Tracy, O'Tomulty, O'Quinn, Reilly (11), Shannon, Scott, Small, Thompson (14), Wilson (15).

County Galway: County Galway - Athy, Bermingham, Blake, Bodkin, Brehan, Browne, Burke (89), Codyre, Conealy or Conneely (89), Connolly (46), Connor (33), Corrib, Darcy, Deane, DeBurgo, Dillon, Donnellan, Doyle, Duffy, Dunmore, Egan (29), Eyre, Fahy (63), fFrench, Flaherty (48), Forde (35), Gately, Gillespie, Grimes, Flaherty, French, Hall, Hannon, Heyne, Higgins, Hughes, Jennings, Joyce (85), Keane (40), Keegan, Kelly (119), Kenny (27), King (36), Kitt, Knockton, Lavelle, Loftus, Lynch, Lyons (30), MacConneely, MacConrey, MacCook, MacDavie (Burke), MacDermott, McDonagh (80), MacDonnell, MacEgan, MacGilduff, MacGillkelly, MacHenry, MacHugh, MacKilduff, MacKilkelly, MacKowge, MacNevin, MacRedmond (Burke), MacTully, MacWard, Madden, Madigan, Mahon, Mannion (59), Martin, Morris, Mullin (30), Murphy (47), Nevin, Nevins, O'Cashin, O'Cahill, O'Callanan, O'Canavan, O'Cane, O'Cashin, O'Cawley, O'Cleary, O'Coffey, O'Concannon, O'Connellan, O'Connelly, O'Connor, O'Coogan, O'Cullen, O'Cunnegan, O'Curran, O'Dally, O'Daly, O'Devaney, O'Donaghey, O'Donnell, O'Donnellan, O'Doorly, O'Downey, O'Doyle, O'Dreenan, O'Duane, O'Dugan, O'Fahy, O'Fallon, O'Feeney, O'Flaherty, O'Foran, O'Grady, O'Hall, O'Halloran, O'Hanrahan, O'Haverty, O'Hayes, O'Heyne, O'Hoolighan, O'Horan, O'Keaveney, O'Kelly, O'Kenny, O'Kerwan, O'Larkin, O'Lee, O'Leehan, O'Lornan, O'Lyne, O'Madden, O'Maginn, O'Mannin, O'Meehan, O'Mohan, O'Moran, O'Mulkerrin, O'Mullally, O'Mullan, O'Mullarky, O'Mulrooney, O'Naughton, O'Ruane, O'Scanlan, O'Scurry, O'Sheehan, O'Shaughnessy, O'Sullivan, O'Toole (25), O'Tormey, O'Tracey, O'Tuohy, Rickard, Skerret, Stanton, Staunton, Walsh (80), Ward.

County Kerry: County Kerry - Abbey, Brehon, Brosnan (55), Brown, Cantillon, Clifford (45), Connor (188), Cronin (43), Daly (34), Ferritter, Fineen, Fitzgerald (72), Fitzmaurice, Foley (55), Griffin (58), Harrington, Harte, Hussey, Joy, Leary (47), Long, Lynch (41), MacCarthy (88), MacClancy, MacCrohan, MacEgan, MacElligott, MacFineen, MacGillicuddy, Magrath, MacKenna, MacSheehy, MacSweeney, Mahoney (38), Moore, Moriarity (74), Murphy (95), O'Brennan, O'Brosnaghan, O'Cahill, O'Carroll, O'Casey, O'Cluvane, O'Connell (56), O'Conor, O'Creagh, O'Cronin, O'Daley, O'Delany, O'Donoghue, O'Doolin, O'Downey, O'Dunady, O'Falvey, O'Feenaghty, O'Flynn, O'Foley, O'Galvin, O'Grady, O'Griffin, O'Guiney, O'Hagarty, O'Hallissey, O'Harney, O'Healy, O'Kelleher, O'Kennedy, O'Kissane, O'Layne, O'Leahy, O'Leane, O'Long, O'Mahoney, O'Mara, O'Moran, O'More, O'Moriarty, O'Moynihan, O'Mullane, O'Quill, O'Quinselan, O'Rahilly, O'Scanlan, O'Shea, O'Sheehan, O'Slattery, O'Sugrue, O'Sullivan, O'Quinlan, Reidy, Sears, Shea (146), Slattery, Stack, Sullivan (349), Trant, Ventry, Walsh (45).

County Kildare: County Kildare - Aylmer, Bermingham, Bolger (12), Bracken, Brennan, Burke, Byrne (28), Carroll (13), Connor (18), Delahoyd, Dempsey, DeVesey, Doyle (12), Dunne (32), Earl, Errill, Farrell (15), FitzEustace, Fitzgerald, Fitzhenry, Kelly (40), Knowles, Lawler, MacDonnell, MacTomyn, Moore (14), Murphy (34), Neill (13), Nolan (20), O'Bracken, O'Byrne, O'Carey, O'Carroll, O'Colgan, O'Connor (Faly), O'Cullen, O'Dempsey, O'Dowling, O'Dunn, O'Keary, O'Kelly, O'Murrigan, O'Nolan, O'Toole, Ryan (15), Sammon, Smith (18), Talbot, Timmons, Travers, Wogan.

County Kilkenny: (Personal fave - looks STUNNING!!!) County Kilkenny - Archdeacon, Archer, Barron, Birch, Brennan (49), Brien (15), Butler (22), Byrne (22), Cantwell, Carroll (25), Cody, Comerford, DeClare, Delaney (14), DeMontmorency, Dowling (14), Dunne (20), Fitzpatrick, Forestal, Gillespie, Gilpatrick, Grace, Greland, Henebry, Keefe, Keever (23) , Kelly (17), LeMareschal, MacBreen, Maher (21), MacGilpatrick, Mockler, Murphy (35), Neill (17), O'Bolger, O'Brennan, O'Broder, O'Brophy, O'Callan, O'Carroll, O'Coveney, O'Delany, O'Donoghoe, O'Doyle, O'Dunphy, O'Gloran, O'Hely, O'Keefe, O'Kealy, O'Loughnan, O'More, O'Phelan, O'Queally, O'Ryan, O'Shea, Phelan (18), Power (17), Purcell (17), Rothe, Ryan (34), Shea (15), Shortall, Sweetman, Tobin, Walsh (45).

County Laois: County Laois - Brennan (10), Butler, Byrne (11), Carroll (12), Conroy (19), Delaney (30), Dempsey, DeVesey, Dolan, Dooliney, Doran, Dunne (34), Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick (17), Harrigan, Kavanagh (11), Kelly (10), Kennedy (11), Lalor (18), Moore, Mortimer, MacCashin, MacCostigan, MacCrossan, MacEvoy, MacGilpatrick, MacGorman, Mortimer, Murphy (10), O'Bracken, O'Breen, O'Brennan, O'Brogan, O'Brophy, O'Deegan, O'Delany, O'Dempsey, O'Devoy, O'Doran, O'Dowling, O'Duff, O'Dunn, O'Hourihan, O'Healy, O'Keally, O'Kelly, O'Lawlor, O'Mooney, O'More, O'Mulhall, O'Regan, O'Tracey, Phelan (18), Ryan (13), Whelan (12).

County Leitrim: County Leitrim - Arthur, Allan, Allen, Beirne (13), Dolan (14), Flynn (20), Forde, Gallagher (13), Keany (16), Kelly (30), Meehan, MacClancy, MacCoggan, MacConsnamha, MMacCoogan, MacCosnave, MacColreavy, McDermott (13), MacDorchy, MacFergus, MacFinnevar, MacFlorin, MacGanly, MacGeerhy, MacGilhooly, MacGilmartin, MacGloin, McLoughlin (20), MacGoggan, MacGoldrick, MacGourtey, MacGovern (13), MacGowan (16), Maguire (15), McHugh (19), MacKenny, MacKeon, MacMorrow (18), MacPartian, MacRannall, MacShanley, MacSharry (13), MacTeigue, McTernan (17), Moran (16), Mulvey (13), O'Carroll, O'Curneen, O'Dolan, O'Dorcey, O'Duigenan, O'Finn, O'Gallon, O'Meeghan, O'Mulmoher, O'Mulvey, O'Rodaghan, O'Rourke, Owen, Reilly (16), Reynolds (30), Rooney (18), Rourke, Shanley, Tiernan.

County Limerick: County Limerick - Ahern (25), Arthur, Burke, Browne, Byrd, Collins (40), Condon, Crawford, Creagh, De Lacy, Fitzgerald (58), Fitzgibbon, Fitzharris, Gunning, Harold, Harris, Harte, Hayes (45), Kidney, Knight, Lynch (31), Magee, MacArthur, MacEneiry, MacKeogh, Magrath, MacSheehy, McCole, McCoy, McNamara (31), Moloney (38), Murphy (38), Neville, O'Billry, O'Brien (78), O'Casey, O'Cassidy, O'Clerihan, O'Clerkin, O'Collins, O'Conlan, O'Connell (39), O'Connor (37), O'Culhane, O'Cullen, O'Delaney, O'Dinnahan, O'Donnell (28), O'Donovan, O'Flannery, O'Grady, O'Gunning, O'Hallinan, O'Hartigan, O'Hea, O'Heffernan, O'Hely, O'Honan, O'Hurley, O'Kerwick, O'Kiely, O'Kinneally, O'Kirby, O'Leahy, O'Longan, O'Mackesey, O'Morony, O'Mulcahy, O'Mullhollan, O'Nee, O'Quinn, O'Ryan, O'Scanlon, O'Sexton, O'Shea, O'Sheehan, Purcell, Roche, Rocke, Russell, Ryan (91), Sarsfield, Sheedy, Sullivan (5), Tracy, Troy, Wall, Walsh (45), White, Woulfe.

County Londonderry: County Londonderry - Allen, Bradley (40), Brown (36), Campbell (33), Doherty (80), Dungiven, Gallagher (23), Kane (26), Kelly (50), Maginn, Mulhall, Mulhallan or Mulholland, Mullan or Mullen (33), MacCloskey (36), MacColgan, MacConnell, MacCracken, MacCrilly, MacDonald, MacDonnell, MacGilligan, MacGurk, McLaughlin (68), MacLoughlin, MacNamee, MacRory, MacTaggart, Moore (25), O'Brolchan, O'Cahan, O'Carolan, O'Cassidy, O'Connelan, O'Connor, O'Corr, O'Deery, O'Devlin, O'Dimond, O'Freel, O'Hagarty, O'Henry, O'Kane, O'Keenan, O'Kelly, O'Loan, O'Mullan, O'Mullhollan, O'Mulligan, O'Mulvenna, O'Murray, O'Neill (29), O'Quig, O'Quigley, O'Quinn, O'Rafferty, O'Scullion, Smith (31).

County Longford: County Longford - Brady (13), Casey, Donohoe (19), Farrell (36), Fleming, Flood, Fox, Kelly (23), Kiernan (24), MacAtilla, MacCavan, MacConway, MacCormac, MacGaynor, MacGilchrist, MacGilligan, MacHugh, MacMaster, Murphy (14), O'Farrell, O'Ferral, O'Higgin, O'Mulfenny, O'Mulroy, O'Quinn, O'Quinslean, O'Reilly, O'Ronan, O'Sheridan, O'Slevin, Quinn (12), Reilly (78), Smith (12), Tuite.

County Louth: County Louth - Bellew, Boyle (11), Byrne (36), Carroll (19), Clarke (23), Clinton, Connor (11), DeGernon, DeVerdon, Devereaux, Donnelly (13), Dromgool, Duffy (21), Farrell (13), Hanratty (12), Hardy, Kelly (30), Lynch (11), MacBarron, MacCabe, MacCann, MacGilmichael, MacKenny, MacMahon, MacSolly, Martin (14), Mathews (16), McArdle (20), McCourt (12), McKenna (12), Morgan (13), Murphy (30), O'Branaghan, O'Carragher, O'Carroll, O'Coleman, O'Hare (11), O'Kelly, O'Markey, O'Marron, O'Neny, O'Scanlon, Peppard, Plunket, Reilly (20), Rice (13), Taaffe, Shannon, Small, Smith (26).

County Mayo: County Mayo - Barrett, Browne, Burke (36), Burris, Byrd, Conn, Connor (45), Conway (40), Costello, Crean, Cusack, DeExeter, Dillon, Doherty (34), Duffy (55), Durkan (35), Erris, Fleming, Gallagher (92), Gibbons (47), Higgins (39), Hughes, Jennings, Jordan, Joyce (46), Kane, Kearns, Kelly (89), Killala, Lavin, Lawless, Leonard, Loftus, Lynott, Lyons (32), MacAndrew, MacAveely, MacCunneen, MacDavett, MacDonnell, MacEvilly, MacGarry, MacGavan, MacGeraghty, MacGibbon, MacGreal, MacHale (50), MacHenry, McHugh (34), MacJordan, MacKerribly, MacLaughlin, MacMorris, MacNally, MacNicholas, MacNulty, MacPhilbin, MacPhillips, Martins, May, Moore, Moran (77), Morris, Murphy (39), Murrish, Milford, Meelick, Morris, Nangle, O'Bannan, O'Beirn, O'Bligh, O'Brogan, O'Cahaney, O'Callaghan, O'Canny, O'Carney, O'Clery, O'Comane, O'Connigan, O'Connellan, O'Conway, O'Conor, O'Coolahan, O'Cummin, O'Derrig, O'Dolan, O'Donnell, O'Dorcey, O'Dougherty, O'Dowd, O'Duffy, O'Dugan, O'Fergus, O'Finan, O'Finnigan, O'Flannelly, O'Flannery, O'Flynn, O'Gara, O'Gaughn, O'Gavagan, O'Gilleen, O'Gearan, O'Gormley, O'Grady, O'Halloran, O'Henaghan, O'Higgin, O'Keerin, O'Keevane, O'Kerrigan, O'Killeen, O'Kirwan, O'Larissey, O'Lavel, O'Lennon, O'Loughane, O'Malley (78), O'Monghan, O'Moran, O'Mulkerin, O'Mulleeny, O'Mulrenin, O'Mullarkey, O'Mullover, O'Mulroy, O'Murray, O'Quigley, O'Quinn, O'Roddan, O'Rolan, O'Ronan, O'Rory, O'Tierney, O'Tolleran, O'Toole, O'Towey, Petit, Phillips, Prendergast, Reid, Reilly (36), Solan, Staunton, Sweeney (33), Walsh (134).

County Meath: County Meath - Barnewall, Bates, Beatty, Bellew, Betagh, Brady (16), Bregin, Brien (13), Butler, Byrne (8), Cheevers, Clarke (7), Coleman, Connor (8), Cruise, Cusack, Daly (11), Darcy, Dardis, Dargan, DeBathe, DeGeneville, DeLacy, DeMortimer, Dillon, Dowdall, Dowth, Drake, Duffy (9), Dunne (9), Farrell (14), Farrelly (14), FitzEustace, Fleming, Hayes, Hussey, Kells, Kelly (14), Langan, Logan, Lowther, Lynch (17), MacEntee, MacGrane, Maguire (11), Mahon (7), Martin (7), Marward, Mathews (7), Missett, Mooney, Nangle, Netterville, Nugent, O'Carolan, O'Coffey, O'Conolly, O'Devane, O'Dunn, O'Fox, O'Gogarty, O'Halligan, O'Hand, O'Hart, O'Hea, O'Hennessy, O'Kelly, O'Kindellan, O'Loughnane, O'Melaghlin, O'Mullhollan, O'Murtagh, O'Regan, O'Reilly, O'Rory, O'Traynor, Peppard, Plunkett, Preston, Reilly (53), Rogers, Smith (30), Taylor.

County Monaghan: County Monaghan - Clancy, Connolly (36), Deveraux, Duffy (38), Gernon, Gilroy, Hayes, Hughes (25), Keily (18), Lawlor, Monaghan, MacAneeny, MacArdle, MacBennett, MacCabe (22), MacDonnell, MacGilmichael, MacGilroy, MacGorman, MacKenna (32), MacMacken, MacMahon (33), MacNally, MacNeney, MacOscar, MacQuade, Maguire (17), Martin (19), Murphy (17), O'Boylan, O'Branagan, O'Callan, O'Cassidy, O'Connolly, O'Corgley, O'Cosgrave, O'Donegan, O'Finn, O'Hanratty, O'Heaney, O'Hoey, O'Larkin, O'Loan, O'Marron, O'Neny, Quinn (18), Shannon, Small, Smith (19), Traynor, Woods (14).

County Offaly: County Offaly - Burr, Carroll (12), Cogan, Daly (20), DeLacy, Dempsey (10), Dunne (23), Egan (17), Fitzgerald, Fitzsimon, Fox, Hennessy, Hoolahan, Hussey, Kelly (34), Kennedy (10), Kenny (11), Le Strange, Maher (10), Mooney, MacClelland, MacCoghlan, MacCorcoran, MacGilfoyle, Molloy (16), Mooney (16), Murray (11), O'Bannon, O'Behan, O'Bergin, O'Breen, O'Caherny, O'Carroll, O'Connor, O'Cunneen, O'Dempsey, O'Dooly, O'Dullahanty, O'Fallon, O'Flanagan, O'Flattery, O'Harly, O'Hennessy, O'Holohan, O'Madden, O'Malone, O'Meagher, O'Molloy, O'Mooney, O'Mulligan, O'Mulvany, O'Mulready, O'Reagan, O'Rigney, O'Riordan, Walsh (12), Warren.

County Roscommon: County Roscommon - Boyle, Beirne (38), Brennan (22), Brodie, Carolan, Conniff, Connor (30), Conroy, Coughlan, Cox, Coyle, Dillon, Flanagan (32), Flynn (20), Gately, Gillooly, Hayes, Higgins (22), Kilronan, Kelly (68), Kenny (21), MacBrennan, MacDermott (45), MacDockery, McDonagh (26), MacDowell, MacGeraghty, MacGlynn, MacGovern, MacGreevy, MacKeogh, MacKeon, MacManus, MacMonaghan, MacOiraghty, MacQuilly, MacTeigue, MacWeeney, Mace, Murphy, Murray (24), O'Beirne, O'Cahill, O'Cashin, O'Clabby, O'Concannon, O'Connor, O'Conor, O'Connellan, O'Cooney, O'Corr, O'Dempsey, O'Donnelan, O'Duigenan, O'Duffy, O'Dugan, O'Fallon, O'Feeheny, O'Finaghty, O'Fihelly, O'Finegan, O'Flanagan, O'Furey, O'Flynn, O'Giblin, O'Glennon, O'Gormley, O'Hanley, O'Kelly, O'Kenny, O'Lavan, O'Loman, O'Lonnegan, O'Maginn, O'Malbride, O'Manning, O'Meaney, O'Molloy, O'Monahan, O'Moran, O'Mulconry, O'Mullaney, O'Mulkerrin, O'Mulloy, O'Mulready, O'Mulrennan, O'Mulvihill, O'Murray, O'Naughton, O'Norton, O'Rattigan, Quinn (25), Regan (35), Towey (22).

County Sligo: County Sligo - Boyle, Brennan (31), Burke, Cooke, Connolly (13), Conway (10), Cowell, Cummins, Durkin or Durkan (15), Feeney (11), Flynn (14), Gallagher (26), Gilmartin (14), Harte (20), Henry (15), Kelly (23), Kennedy (16), Kilrehill, Leonard (14), MacAlary, MacBreheny, MacClancy, MacConway, MacDermott, MacDonough, MacDurkan, MacErlean, MacFirbis, MacGeraghty, MacGilpin, McGowan (18), MacKilbane, McLoughlin (28), O'Boland, O'Breslin, O'Brogan, O'Cavagan, O'Colman, O'Conaghty, O'Conboy, O'Connachtan, O'Conor, O'Conway, O'Corley, O'Corr, O'Crean, O'Devlin, O'Donnell, O'Dowd, O'Feeney, O'Finn, O'Flannelly, O'Gara, O'Gavagan, O'Greane, O'Hara (13), O'Harte, O'Hely, O'Higgins, O'Howley, O'Kanavaghan, O'Keevane, O'Kernaghan, O'Loughman, O'Loughrey, O'Meehan, O'Meeney, O'Mohan, O'Moran, O'Mongan, O'Morrison, O'Morrissey, O'Moynagh, O'Mulclohy, O'Mullany, O'Mulvany, O'Noone, O'Rafferty, O'Scannell, O'Somohan, O'Spelman, O'Tarpey, Scanlon (14), Sheridan (10), Spillane, Stenson (11), Taaffe, Walker, Walsh or Walshe (18), Waters, White, Wilson.

County Tipperary: County Tipperary - Burke, Butler, Cahir, DeBurgo, Dwyer (64), Everard, Fitzgerald, Gleeson (38), Grace, Greene, Greer, Haggan, Hally, Hayes (38), Hennessey, Hogan (46), Kelly (31), Kennedy (70), Lee, Leydon, Lonergan (31), Lynch, MacCall, MacCarthy, MacCorcoran, MacCormac, MacEgan, MacEnerny, MacGilfoyle, Magrath, Maher (74), Mathew, McGrath (38), Mockler, Needham, O'Breslin, O'Brien (74), O'Bryan, O'Cahill, O'Callaghan, O'Carroll, O'Corcoran, O'Cuire, O'Cullen, O'Cullenan, O'Cune, O'Danagher, O'Dea, O'Dermody, O'Dinan, O'Dinerty, O'Donegan, O'Donnell, O'Donorty, O'Donohoe, O'Dwyer, O'Fahey, O'Finerty, O'Fogarty, O'Furey, O'Gleeson, O'Halley, O'Hartigan, O'Heffernan, O'Hickey, O'Hogan, O'Hurley, O'Kean, O'Kearney, O'Keeley, O'Kelleher, O'Kennedy, O'Lanigan, O'Larkin, O'Leahy, O'Lenahan, O'Lomasney, O'Lonergan, O'Mackey, O'Malquiney, O'Meagher, O'Meara, O'Meehan, O'Merry, O'Morrissey, O'Mulcahy, O'Mulrian, O'Quinlan, O'Quinlevan, O'Quirke, O'Reidy, O'Ryan, O'Scully, O'Sexton, O'Shanahan, O'Shea, O'Slattery, O'Spillane, O'Sullivan, O'Trehy, Phelan, Prendergast, Purcell, Ryan (277), Sheady, Troy, Walsh (38), White.

County Tyrone: County Tyrone - Armstrong, Campbell (32), Clarke, Cunningham, Doherty (27), Donnelly (34), Gallagher (34), Grimes, Hamilton (23), Hayes, Hogan, Hughes (31), Kelly (38), Lowry, MacBreen, MacCaghwell, MacCann, MacConnell, MacCourt, MacCreehan, MacCrossan, MacCullen, MacCullough, MacEttigan, MacGolrick, MacIntyre, McKenna (33), McLaughlin (29), MacNamee, MacOwen, MacRory, MacShane, MacTaggart, Maguirk, Mullan (39), O'Bannon, O'Cahan, O'Carolan, O'Connellan, O'Cooney, O'Corran, O'Corry, O'Criocan, O'Crossan, O'Devlin, O'Donlevy, O'Donnegan, O'Donnelly, O'Duvany, O'Etigan, O'Hagan, O'Hamill, O'Henry, O'Hosey, O'Kelly, O'Larkin, O'Laverty, O'Loan, O'Lunney, O'Magh, O'Mallan, O'Mellan, O'Neill (29), O'Neney, O'Quinn, O'Rafferty, O'Teighe, O'Tomelty, O'Tye, Owen, Patterson, Quinn (40), Rafferty, Roe, Rowe, Smith (25), Swan, Taggert, Tyre, Wilson (30), Woods.

County Waterford: County Waterford - Aylward, Barron, Butler (21), Comerford, Dalton, Duggan, Fallon, Farrell, Fay, Fitzgerald, Flynn (28), Foley (30), Harper, Henebry, Keane, Kelly (26), Le Poer, Lombard, MacGraw, MacGrath (31), Magrath, McCarthy (22), Morris, Morrissey (27), Mulcahy, Murphy (35), O'Brick, O'Brien (47), O'Comley, O'Conran, O'Cotter, O'Crotty, O'Dennehy, O'Felan, O'Flahavan, O'Flanagan, O'Geary, O'Keane, O'Lonergan, O'Merry, O'Morrisey, O'Mullany, O'Neill, O'Phelan, Ormonde, Phelan (25), Power (125), Rodger, Rodgers, Roger, Rogers, Ryan (35), Sherlock, Talbot, Tobin (20), Shannon, Small, Sullivan (25), Wadden, Wadding, Wall, Walsh (97), Waters, Whelan (23), White, Wyse.

County Westmeath: County Westmeath - Byrne (7), Carberry, Carey (7), Coffey, Cox, Dalton (8), Daly (11), Dease, DeLacy, DeLamare, De Verdon, Dalton, Dillon, Duffy (9), Dunne (6), Fagan, Farrell (13), Fitzsimon, Flynn (6), Gaffney, Kelly (8), Leavy (6), Lynch (14), MacAuley, MacCarron, MacConway, MacEvoy, MacGee, MacGeoghegan, MacGlynn, MacRourke, MacTully, McCormick (9), Murray (10), Murtagh (6), Nugent, O'Breen, O'Brennan, O'Brogan, O'Casey, O'Cassidy, O'Caffey, O'Carbury, O'Colgan, O'Corrigan, O'Curry, O'Daly, O'Donoghue, O'Dooley, O'Fay, O'Finnelan, O'Furey, O'Growney, O'Hanrahan, O'Hanfey, O'Hart, O'Hennessey, O'Heneran, O'Henrey, O'Higgin, O'Kearney, O'Laughnan, O'Malone, O'Melaghlin, O'Mulleady, O'Neill (6), O'Reilly, O'Scully, O'Shiel, O'Toler, Petit, Reilly (12), Smith (8), Tuite, Tyrrell, Walsh (9), Warren.

County Wexford: County Wexford - Bolger (25), Browne, Brehon, Brien (32), Butler, Byrne (46), Cavanagh, Codd, Colclough, Comerford, Connor (28), Corish, Cullen (34), Cutler, DeMontmorency, DePrendergast, DeRenzy, Devereaux, Doyle (102), Esmond, Fitzgerald, Fitzharris, Fitzhenry, Fitzstephen, Fortune, French, Furlong, Haye, Hoare, Kavanagh (34), Keating, Kehoe (28), Kelly (30), Kinsella, Laffan, LeMareschal, MacDaveymore, MacKeogh, MacVaddock, Masterson, May, Mead, Meyler, Morgan, MacKeogh, MacMurrough, Masterson, Meyler, Morgan, Murphy (137), Nolan (30), O'Bolger, O'Cavanagh, O'Cosgry, O'Doran, O'Doyle, O'Dugan, O'Garvey, O'Hartley, O'Larkin, O'Lynan, O'Morghue, O'Murphy, Redmond (30), Roche (31), Ross, Rossiter, Ryan (26), Seagrave, Sinnot, Stafford, Strongbow, Sutton, Talbot, Wadding, Walsh (56), Whelan (25).

County Wicklow: County Wicklow - Archbold, Arklow, Brien (18), Butler, Byrne (87), Cooke, Cheevers, Delgany, Doyle (53), Dunne (13), Durlavin, Farrell (11), FitzEustace, Fitzgerald, Fitzwilliam, Furlong, Hughes, Jones, Kavanagh (24), Kehoe (16), Kelly (25), Lawlor (15), Lombard, MacDonald, MacKeogh, MacMurrough, Murphy (26), Nolan (21), O'Byrne, O'Cosgrave, O'Cullen, O'Dowling, O'Doyle, O'Farrell, O'Gahan, O'Hara, O'Horan, O'Kelly, O'Tighe, O'Toole, O'Vaca, Redmond (10), Talbot, Tallon, Toole (14), Walsh.

About Tartan: The Kilt
Today's Highland Dress is distinctive, smart, martial, formal and known world wide as Scotland's national costume. However like the Tartan itself the origins of the kilt are surrounded by a degree of controversy.

The Highlander of old (pre-1746) would often have worn the feileadh mor, Gaelic for a large piece of woollen tartan material wrapped round the body, belted at the waist and pinned over the shoulder. It no doubt also served as a blanket while campaigning - the word 'plaid' is the Gaelic plaide meaning blanket. A sensible garment which could give warmth or be worn lose with sword arm free. Origins may lie with the ancient Roman or Celtic tunic. In fact both recent Highlanders and ancient Celts also worn tight trousers - truis. These were particularly popular on horseback!

Exactly when the fealeadh beg (filibeg), the tailored version worn from waist to knee, came into existence is open to debate. One suggestion is that an Englishman in charge of an iron smelter at Invergarry around 1730, Thomas Rawlinson, suggested that his workforce would fare better at their work if the dispensed with the upper part of their garment and worn what we would describe as a kilt. The word 'kilt' itself, although not Gaelic, is probably older. A Scandinavian or old English root from a verb meaning 'to hitch up and fold a garment' seems most likely.

Today's kilt can be worn, particularly by pipers, with a plaid - a long piece of tartan wrapped round the upper body which, along with the kilt, are a modern version of the full feileadh mor of past times.

After the battle of Culloden in 1746, traditional Highland Dress was banned along with tartan from 1746-82. However Highland regiments were being formed in the Government army and most of these adopted the kilt and a tartan as part of their uniform. From this martial background comes the style of today's Highland Dress.

When George IV visited Edinburgh in 1822, Full Highland Dress was worn by almost everybody including King George himself thanks to the efforts of Sir Walter Scott. The kilt became quite definitely the distinctive national dress of Scotland.

The Clan
Definition of the word 'Clan' The Gaelic word for children is more accurately translated as 'family' in the sense in which the word clan became accepted in the Scottish Highlands during the 13th century. A clan is a social group whose core comprises a number of families derived from, or accepted as being derived from, a common ancestor. Almost without exception, that core is accompanied by a further number of dependent and associated families who have either sought the protection of the clan at some point in history or have been tenants or vassals of its chief. That chief is owed allegiance by all members of the clan, but ancient tradition nevertheless states that 'the Clan is above the Chief'. Although Gaelic has been supplanted by English in the Lowlands of Scotland for nearly a thousand years, it is an acceptable convention to refer to the great Lowland families, like the Douglases, as clans, although the heads of certain families, such as Bruce, prefer not to use the term. Allegiance was generally given to a father's clan, but Celtic tradition includes a strong element of descent through, and loyalty to, a mother's line. In reality, the chief of a clan would 'ingather' any stranger, of whatever family, who possessed suitable skills, maintained his allegiance and, if required, adopted the clan surname.

The Sept
A Sept is a family name which can be related to a clan or larger family for various reasons: Either through marriage or by seeking protection from a larger and more powerful neighbouring clan or family. Many names which are recorded as septs have since become clans in their own right and many can be related to more than one clan.

FIND YOUR NAME IN THE LIST BELOW!

The Clans & their Septs B / C / D / F / G / H / I / K / L / M / O / P / R / S / W

Clan Buchanan
Basken, Baskin, Bede, Bonnieville, Boyne, Buck, Buckie, Bucky, Cawsell, Chapp, Chrystal, Clapperton, Coscrach, Costie, Costy, Cranach, Crannach, Crystall, Crystal, Crudon, Cruden, Cruddon, Colman, Donleavy, Donlevy, Dove, Dow, Dowe, Fasken, Faskin, Fitchie, Fitchy, Gammerie, Gammery, Gibb, Gibson, Gilbertson, Hardin, Hardman, Hardnan, Harper, Harperson, Kermack, Leisk, Lennie, Lenny, Macaldonich, Macandeoir, MacAslan, MacAuselan, MacAuslan,MacAusland, MacAuslane, MacCalman, MacCalmont, MacCalmont, MacCammond, MacChruiter, MacColman, MacCormack, MacCrystal, MacDonleavy, MacGibbon, Macgreusich, Macinally, Macindeor, Macindoe,Mackinlay, Mackinley, MacMaster, MacMaurice, MacMurchie, MacMurchy, Macnuyer, MacWattie, MacWhirter, Masterson, Meason, Merson, Mondie, Mondy, Mundie, Mundy, Murchie, Murchieson, Nible, Niblo, Ogston, Ogstone, Ogstoun, Prince, Rattliff, Ratcliff, Ratliff, Rattcliff, Risk, Runcie, Runcy, Ruskin, Shakle, Spittal, Spittel, Tarves, Tarvis, Teunion, Teunon, Tewnion,TinnonTucks, Wadsworth,Wadsworther, Watson,Watt, West, Whammond, Willgook, Whyman,Whymon, Yull, Yuille, Yule. TOP

Clan Cameron
Chalmers, Kennedy, MacChlerich, MacChlery,MacFall, MacGillonie, Macildowie, MacKail, Maclerie, MacMartin, MacOnie, MacOurlic, MacPhail, MacSorley, MacUlric, Macvail, MacWalrick, Martin, Paul, Sorley, Taylor. TOP

Clan Campbell
Bannatyne, Burns, Burnes, Burnett, Connochie, Denoon, Denune, Harres, Harris, Haws, Hawson, MacConnechy, MacConochie, MacGibbon, Macglasrich, MacIssac, MacIver, MacIvor, KacKellar, MacKessock, MacKissock, MacLaws, LacLehose, MacNichol, MacOran, MacOwen, MacPhedran, MacPhun, MacUre, Ure. Clan Campbell of Breadalbane: MacDiarmid, MacDermid. Clan Campbell of Cawdor: Caddell, Calder. Clan Campbell of Loudoun: Hastings, Loudoun. TOP

Clan Colquhoun
Cowan, Cowen, Culchone, Ingram, Kilpatrick, King, Kirkpatrick, Laing, MacAchounich, MacLintock, MacMains, MacManus, MacOwan, Maccowan, MacClintock. TOP

Clan Cumming
Buchan, Comine, Comyn, MacNiven, Niven, Russell. TOP

Clan Davidson
Davie, Davis, Dawson, Dow, Kay, Macdade, Macdaid, MacDavid.TOP

Clan Drummond
Grewar, Gruer, Maccrouther, Macgrewar, Macgrowther, Macgruder, Macgruther, MacRobbie. TOP

Clan Farquharson
Barrie, Brebner, Christie, Coates, Coutts, Farquhar, Findlay, Findlayson, Finlay, Finlayson, Gracie, Greusach, Hardie, Hardy, Kellas, Lyon, MacCaig, MacCardney, Macartney, MacCuaig, MacEarachar, MacFarquhar, Machardie,Mackindlay, Mackinlay, Paterson, Reoch, Riach, Tawse. TOP

Clan Ferguson
Fergus, Ferries, Hardie, MacAdie, MacFergus, MacKerras, MacKersey. TOP

Clan Forbes
Bannerman, Fordyce, Michie.TOP

Clan Forrester
Forrester, Forester, Foristar, Forrister, Forrest, Forest, Forster, Forstar, Foster, Fostar, Corstorphine, Carstarphen TOP

Clan Fraser
Bisset, Brewster, Cowie, Frew, Frissell, Frizell, Macgruer, Macimmey, MacKim, MacKimmie, MacShimes, MacSimon, MacSymon, MacTavish, Oliver, Sim, Sime, Simon, Simpson, Sims, Simson, Syme, Symon, Twaddle, Tweedie. TOP

Clan Gordon
Adam, Adamson, Addie, Adie, Addison, Aiken, Aitchison, Atkin, Atkins, Atkinson, Badenoch, Barrie, Connor, Connon, Craig, Cromb, Crombie, Cullen, Culane, Darg, Darge, Dorward, Duff, Durward, Eadie, Eddie, Edie, Edison, Esslemont, Gardiner, Gardner, Garioch, Garrick, Garroick, Geddes, Gerrie, Huntley, Huntly, Jessiman, Jopp, Jupp, Laing, Lang, Laurie, Lawrie, Leng, Ling, MacAdam, Mallett, Manteach, Marr, Maver, Meldrum, Mill, Mills, Milles, Miln, Milne, Milner, More, Morrice, Muir, Mylne, Steel, Teal, Tod, Todd, Troup. TOP

Clan Graham
Airth , Allardice, Allardyce, Bonar, Bonnar, Bontein, Bontine, Buntain, Bunten, Buntine, Bunting, Graeme, Grahame, Grahym, Grim, Grymn, Hadden, Haldane, Macgibbon, Macgilvernock, Macgrime, Maharg, Menteith, Monteith, Pitcairn, Pye, Pyott. TOP

Clan Grant
Allan, Allen, Bisset, Bissett, Bowie, Buie, Gilroy, MacAllan, Macgilroy, MacIlroy, MacKerran, MacKiaran, MacKessock, Pratt and Suttie. TOP

Clan Gunn
Gallie, Gaunson, Georgeson, Henderson, Jameson, Jamieson, Johnson, Kean, Keens, MacComas, MacCorkill, MacCorkle, MacIan, MacKames, MacKeamish, MacKean, MacRob, MacWilliam, Mann, Manson, Nelson, Robison, Robson, Sandison, Swanson, Williamson, Wilson. TOP

Clan Hall
Halle, Haule, Haul, Hal, De Aula, Hale, Haw, Collingwood, Crispin, Fitz William, MacHall. TOP

Clan Innes
Dinnes, Ennis, Innie, McRob, McTary, Marnoch, Mavor, Middleton, Mitchell, Reidfuird, Thain, Wilson. TOP

Clan Keith
Achindachy, Astine, Aston, Austen, Austie, Austin, Cate, Dick, Dickson, Dickison, Dicson, Dixon, Dixson, Falconer, Falconor, Faulkner, Harvie, Harvey, Harvie, Hervey, Haxton, Hurrie, Hurry, Keath, Keech, Keeth, Kite, Lumgain, Lumgaine, Lumgair, MacDick, MacDicken(s), MacDickin(s), MacDickie, MacDicky, MacDickson, MacGeath, MacKeetch, MacKeeth, MacKeith, MacKeithan, MacKeth, Mackett, MacNeithan, Marshall, Urrie, Urry. TOP

Clan Kinnaird
Kinnard, Kynnard, Kennard, Kynharde, Kinzerd, Kinnart, Kynnart, Kynarde, Culbin. TOP

Clan Lamont
Black, Brown, Bourdon, Burdon, Lamb, Lambie, Lammie, Lamondson, Landers, Lemond, Limond, Limont, Lucas, Luke, Lyon, Macalduie, MacClymont, MacGilledow, MacGillegowie,Macilzegowie, Macilwhom, MacLamond, MacLucas, MacLymont, MacPatrick, MacPhorich, MacSorley, Meikleham, Patrick, Sorley, Toward, Towart, Turner, White. TOP

Clan Leslie
Abernethy, Bartholomew, More. TOP

Clan Lindsay
Crawford, Deuchar TOP

Clan MacAllister
Alexander TOP

Clan MacAulay
MacPhedron, MacPheidiran TOP

Clan MacArthur
Arthur, MacCartair, MacCarter. TOP

Clan MacBean
Bean, MacBeath, MacBeth, Macilvain, MacVean TOP

Clan MacDonald
Beath, Beaton, Bethune, Bowie, Colson, Connall, Connell, Darroch, Donald, Donaldson, Donillson, Donnelson, Drain, Galbraith, Gilbride, Gorrie, Gowan, Gowrie, Hawthorn, Hewison, Houstoun, Howison, Hughson, Hutcheonson, Hutchinson, Hutchison, Isles, Kellie, Kelly, Kinnell, Mac a' Challies, MacBeth, MacBeath, MacBheath, MacBride, MacCaishe, MacCall, MacCash, MacCeallaich, MacCodrum, MacColl, MacConnell, MacCook, MacCooish, MacCrain, MacCuag, MacCuish, MacCuitein, MacCutcheon, MacDaniell, Macdrain, MacEachern, MacElfrish, MacElheran, MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGoun, MacGowan, MacGown, MacHugh, MacHutchen, MacHutcheon, MacIan, Macilreach, Macilriach, Macilleriach, Macilrevie, Macilvride, Macilwraith, MacKean, MacKellachie, MacKellaig, MacKelloch, MacKiggan, MacKinnell, MacLairish, MacLardie, MacLardy, MacLarty, MacLaverty, MacLeverty, MacMurchie, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, MacO'Shannaig, MacQuistan, MacQuisten, MacRaith, MacRorie, MacRory, MacRuer, MacRurie, MacShannachan, MacSorley, MacSporran, MacSwan, MacWhannell, Martin, May, Murchie, Murchison, Murdoch, Murdoson, O'Drain, O'May, O'Shannachan, O'Shaig, O'Shannaig, Purcell, Revie, Reoch, Riach, Rorison, Shannon, Sorley, Sporran, Train, Whannel. Clan MacDonald of Clanranald: Allan, Allanson, Currie, MacAllan, MacBurie, MacEachin, MacGeachie, MacGeachin, MacIssac, MacKeachan,Mackechnie, MacKeochan, MacKessock, MacKichan, MacKissock, MacMurrich, MacVarish, MacVurrich, MacVurie. Clan MacDonald of Ardnamurchan: Johnson, Kean, Keene. Clan MacDonald of Glencoe: Henderson, Johnson, Kean, Keene, MacHenry, MacIan, MacKean. TOP

Clan MacDonell
Alexander, Sanderson. Clan MacDonnell of Keppoch: MacGillivantic, MacGilp, Macglasrich, MacKillop, MacPhilip, Philipson, Ronald, Ronaldson. TOP

Clan MacDougall
Carmichael, Conacher, Cowan, Dougall, Dowall, Livingston, Livingstone, MacConacher, MacCowan, MacCoul, MacCulloch, MacDowall, MacDowell, MacDulothe, MacEwen, MacEwan, MacEowen, MacOwen MacHowell,
MacKichan, MacLucas, MacLugash, MacLulich, MacNamell, Macoul, Macowl. TOP

Clan MacDuff
Duff, Fife, Fyfe, Spence, Spens, Wemyss. TOP

Clan MacFarlane
Allan, Allanson, Bartholomew, Caw, Galbraith, Griesck, Gruamach, Kinnieson, Lennox, MacAindra, MacAllan, MacCaa, MacCause, MacCaw, MacCondy, MacEoin, MacGaw, MacGeoch, Macgreusich, Macinstalker, MacIock, MacJames, Mackinlay, MacNair, MacNeur, MacNider, MacNiter, MacRob, MacRobb, MacWalter, MacWilliam, Miller, Monach, Napier, Parlane, Robb, Stalker, Thomason, Weaver, Weir. TOP

Clan MacFie
Duffie, Duffy, MacGuffie, Machaffie, Doohan TOP

Clan MacGillivray
Gilroy, MacGillivour, MacGilroy, MacGilvra,MacGilvray, Macilroy, Macilvrae. TOP

Clan MacGregor
Black, Caird, Comrie, Fletcher, Gregor, Gregorson, Gregory, Greig, Grewar, Grier, Grierson, Grigor, Gruer, King, Leckie, Lecky, MacAdam, Macara, Macaree, MacChoiter, Maccrouther, Macgrewar, Macgrowther, Macgruder, Macgruther, Macilduy, MacLeister, MacLiver, MacNee, MacNeish, MacNie, MacNish, MacPeter, Malloch, Neish, Nish, Peter, White, Whyte. TOP

Clan Macinnes
Angus, MacAngus, MacCainsh, MacCansh, MacMaster. TOP

Clan MacIntyre
Tyre, MacTear, Wright, McEntire TOP

Clan MacKay
Bain, Bayne, MacCay, MacCrie, Macghee, Macghie, Mackee, Machie, MacPhail, Macquery, Macquoid, Macvail, Neilson, Paul, Polson, Williamson. TOP

Clan MacKenzie
Kenneth, Kennethson, MacBeolain, MacConnach, MacIver, MacIvor, MacKerlich, MacMurchie, MacMurchy, MacVanish, MacVinish, Murchie, Murchison. TOP

Clan MacKinnon
Love, Mackinney, Mackinning, Kackinvan, MacMorran. TOP

Clan MacKintosh
Adamson, Ayson, Combie, Crerar, Dallas, Doles, Elder, Esson, Glen, Glennie, Hardie, Hardy, MacAndrew, MacAy, MacCardney, MacCombie, MacCombe, MacComie, M'Conchy, Macglashan, Machardie, Machardy, MacHay, Mackeggie, M'Killican, MacNiven, MacOmie, Macritchie, MacThomas, Niven, Noble, Paul, Ritchie, Seawright, Siveright, Shaw, Tarrill, Tosh, Toshach. TOP

Clan MacLachlan
Ewan, Ewen, Ewing, Gilchrist, Lachlan, Lauchlan, MacEwan, MacEwen, MacGilchrist. TOP

Clan MacLaren
McLaren, MacLaurin, MacLaurin, MacLauren, McLauren, McLarin, McCLarin, MacLaran, McLaran, MacLaruan, MacLeran, MacLaurie, McLaurie, Laurence, Lawrence, Law, Lawson, Low, Lowe, Lawrie, Laurie, Lowery, Lowry, Faed, Patterson, Paterson, Peterson, McPater, Patrick, MacPatrick, MacRory, McCrory, McGory, MacRuari, Wright, MacGrory, Peterkin and Borison.TOP

Clan MacLean
Beath, Beaton, Black, Lean, MacBeath, MacBheath, MacBeth, Macilduy, MacLergain, MacRankin, MacVeagh, MacVey, Rankin. TOP

Clan MacLennan
Lobban, Logan TOP

Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod of Harris: Beaton, Bethune, Beton, MacCaig, MacClure, MacCrimmon, MacGuiag, MacHarold, Macraild, Norman. Clan MacLeod of Lewis: Callum, Lewis, MacAskill, MacAulay, MacCallum, MacCAskill, MacCorkindale, MacCorquodale, MacLewis, MacNicol, Malcolmson, Nicholl, Nicol, Nicoll, Nicholson, Nicolson, Tolmie. TOP

Clan MacMillan
Baxter, Bell, Blue, Brown, Millikin/Mullikin, MacBaxter, MacNamell. TOP

Clan MacNab
Abbot, Abbotson, Dewar, Gilfillan, Macandeoir TOP

Clan MacNaughton
Ayson, Bissett, Easson, Ferguson, Henderson, Hendrie, Hendry, Henerdie, Henerdy, Henrie, Henry, Kendrich, Kendrick, Kinrick, MacAire, MacAirey, MacAirie, MacAiry, MacAnir, MacAry, MacAys, MacBrayn, MacBrayne, MacBreen, MacBrine, MacBrinn, MacCachren, MacCarhy, MacCarie, MacCarken, MacCarrie, MacCarry, MacCary, MacCavic, MacCavick, MacCeol, MacClackuon, MacCoal, MacColl, MacCrackan, MacCrackans, MacCracken, MacCrackens, MacCrackin, MacCrackin, MacCrackins, MacCracktin, MacCracktine, MacCraken, MacCratic, MacCratick, MacCrocken, MacCrocklin, MacEal, MacEel, MacFergusse, MacGrachin, MacGrattan, MacGratten, MacGrattin, MacGreachain, MacGreachan, MacHanvichar, MacHarrie, MacHarry, MacHendrie, MacHendry, MacHenrie, MacHenry, MacImery, MacImmery, MacInerie, MacInery, MacInrye, MacIntaylor, MacInterrie, MacInterry, MacIntrye, MacKay, MacKendrich, MacKendrick, MacKendricks, MacKenerick, MacKenerie, MacKenery, MacKindrick, MacKindricks, MacKinrick, MacKnatt, MacKneight, MacKnigh, MacKnight, MacKnot, MacKracherne, MacMath, MacMitt, MacNac, MacNachdan, MacNachtan, MacNachten, MacNachton, MacNack, MacNagen, MacNaghtan, MacNaghten, MacNaghtin, MacNaight, MacNair, MacNairy, MacNamell, MacNammill, MacNarie, MacNary, MacNatt, MacNattie, MacNatton, MacNatty, MacNauchton, MacNaugh, MacNaught, MacNaughtan, MacNaughten, MacNaughton, MacNayer, MacNayre, MacNear, MacNeid, MacNeight, MacNeir, MacNerie, MacNery, MacNet, MacNete, MacNett, MacNette, MacNetten, MacNetton, MacNeur, MacNevens, MacNevin, MacNevins, MacNight, MacNitt, MacNivan, MacNivans, MacNiven, MacNorton, MacNott,MacNought, MacNoughtan, MacNoughton, MacNoyer, MacNuir, MacNut, MacNutt, MacNuyer, MacPortland, MacQuaig, MacQuake, MacQuaker, MacRac, MacRack, MacRacken, MacRackin, MacRagan, MacRaggan, MacReachain, MacReachan, MacRuck, MacRucke, MacVicar, MacVickar, MacVickars, MacVicker, MacVickers, MacVig, MacVige, MacVrine, MacVryne, MacWaughton, MacYole, MacYoll, Manaugh, Mannice, Mannis, Mannise, Nachtan, Nachten, Nactan, Nacten, Naghton, Natton, Naughten, Naughtie, Naughton, Naughty, Nechtan, Nechten, Nectan, Necten, Nevin, Nevins, Nevinson, Niven, Nivens, Nivenson, Nought, Nucater, Nucator, Nutt, Porter, Weir. TOP

Clan MacNeil
MacNeilage, MacNeiledge, MacNelly, Neal, Neil, Neill. TOP

Clan MacPherson
Currie, Fersen, Gillespie, Gillies, Gow, Lees, MacCurrach, MacGowan, MacLeish, LacLise, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, MacMurrich, MacVurrich, Murdoch, Murdoson. TOP

Clan MacQuarrie
MacCorrie, MacCorry, MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGuaran, MacGuire, Macquaire, Macquhirr, Macquire, MacWhirr, Wharrie. TOP

Clan MacQueen
MacCunn, MacSwan, MacSwen, MacSween, MacSwyde, Swan. TOP

Clan MacRae
Macara, MacCraw, Macra, Macrach, MacRaith, MacRath, Rae. TOP

Clan MacTavish
MacCamish, MacCash, MacCosh, MacLaws, MacLehose, MacTammany, MacTause, Stephenson, Steven(s), Stevenson, Stevenston, Stivan, Taweson, Tawesson, Thom, Thomson, Thompson, Thomas, Thomasin, Thomason, Thomassine. Thomazin, Thomerson, Thomes, Thompson, Thomson, Todd. TOP

Tribe of Mar
Marr, Mair, Mairs, Morren, Strachan, Tough TOP

Clan Mathieson
MacMath, MacPhun, Mathie. TOP

Clan Maxwell
Adair, Blackstock, Dinwiddie, Dinwoddie, Edgar, Herries, Kirk, Kirkland, Latimer, Latimore, Mackittrick, Maxton, Mescall, Monreith, Moss, Nithdale, Paulk, Peacock, Pollock, Pollok, Polk, Sturgeon, Wardlaw. TOP

Clan Menzies
Dewar, Macindeor, MacMenzies, MacMinn, MacMonies, Means, Mein, Meine, Mennie, Meyners, Minn, Minnus, Monzie. TOP

Clan Munro
Dingwall, Foulis, MacCulloch, MacLulich, Vass, Wass. TOP

Clan Morrison
Brieve, Gilmore, MacBrieve. TOP

Clan Murray
MacMurray, Moray, Rattray, Small, Spalding. TOP

Clan Ogilvie
Airlie, Gilchrist, MacGilchrist, Milne. TOP

Clan Pentland
Pentlend, Paintland, Petland, Penland, Penlend, Petlend, Pendland. TOP

Clan Robertson
Collier, Colyear, Dobinson, Donachie, Duncan, Duncanson, Dunnachie, Inches, MacConachie, MacConnechy, MacDonachie, Macinroy, MacIver, MacIvor, Maclagen, MacRobbie, MacRobie, MacRobert, Reid, Roy, Stark, Tonnochy.TOP

Clan Ross
Anderson, Andrew, Dingwall, Gillanders, MacAndrew, MacCulloch, MacLulich, MacTaggart, MacTear, MacTier, MacTire, Taggart, Vass, Wass. TOP

Clan Sinclair
Caird, Clouston, Clyne, Linklater, Mason. TOP

Clan Skene
Cariston, Dis, Dyce, Hallyard, Norie. TOP

Clan Stewart
Boyd, Garrow, Menteith, Monteith, Carmichael, MacMichael. Stewart, Appin: Carmichael, Combich, Livingston, Livingstone, MacCombich, Mackinlay, Maclae, Maclay, Maclea, Macleay, MacMichael. Stewart, Atholl: Crookshanks, Cruickshank, Duilach, Gray, Macglashan Stewart Lennox: Howkins. TOP

Clan Sutherland
Cheyne, Federith, Gray, Keith, Mowat, Oliphant, Duffus. TOP

Clan Watson
Belboys, Boas, Boece, Boeis, Boes, Boess, Boice, Boiss, Boiste, Boos, Boost, Bos, Bouse, Boust, Bowayse, Bowes, Bowis, Bows, Bowys, Boyce, Boyes, Boyess, Boyis, Boys, Boyse, Boze, Buist, Buste, DeBosco, MacQuat, MacQuattie, MacQuhat, MacQwat, MacRowatt, MacWalter, MacWater, MacWatson, MacWatt, MacWatters, MacWattie, Vatsoun, Vod, Vode, Void, Voud, Voude, Vould, Walter, Walterson, Wasson, Waters, Waterson, Watson, Watsone, Watsoun, Watt, Wattie, Wattson, Wod, Wode, Wodde, Woid, Woide, Wood, Woyd, Wyatt. TOP

Tartan has without a doubt become one of the most important symbols of Scotland and Scottish Heritage and with the Scots National identity probably greater than at any time in recent centuries, the potency of Tartan as a symbol cannot be understated. However, it has also created a great deal of romantic fabrication, controversy and speculation into its origins, name, history and usage as a Clan or Family form of identification.

What is a Tartan? Tartan is a woven material, generally of wool, having stripes of different colours and varying in breadth. The arrangement of colours is alike in warp and weft - that is, in length and width - and when woven, has the appearance of being a number of squares intersected by stripes which cross each other; this is called a 'sett'.

By changing the colours; varying the width; depth; number of stripes, differencing is evolved. Tartan patterns are called "setts"; the sett being the complete pattern and a length of tartan is made by repeating the pattern or sett over and over again. Origins The Celts for many thousands of years are known to have woven chequered or striped cloth and a few of these ancient samples have been found across Europe and Scandinavia. It is believed that the introduction of this form of weaving came to the West of Northern Britain with the Iron age Celtic Scoti (Scots) from Ireland in the 5 – 6 th c. BC. Early Romans talked of the Celtic tribes wearing bright striped clothing - there was no word at that time for chequered. One of the earliest examples of tartan found in Scotland dates back to the 3rd century AD, where a small sample of woollen check known as the Falkirk tartan (now in the National Museum of Scotland) was found used as a stopper in an earthenware pot to protect a treasure trove of silver coins buried close to the Antonine Wall near Falkirk. It is a simple two coloured check or tartan which, was identified as the undyed brown and white of the native Soay Sheep. Colours were determined by local plants that could be used for dyes. The Name The word Tartan we use today has also caused speculation and confusion as one camp says it comes from the Irish word - tarsna - crosswise and/or the Scottish Gaelic tarsuinn – across. The Gaelic word for Tartan has always been – breachdan - the most accepted probability for the name comes from the French tiretaine which was a wool/linen mixture. In the 1600s it referred to a kind of cloth rather than the pattern in which the cloth was woven.

History One of the first recorded mentions of Tartan was in 1538 when King James V purchased "three ells of Heland Tartans" for his wife to wear. And in 1587, Hector Maclean (heir of Duart) paid feu duty with sixty ells of cloth "white, black and green"- the tradition colours of the Maclean hunting tartan. An eyewitness account of the Battle of Killecrankie in 1689 describes "McDonells men in their triple stripe” but t he first positive proof of the existence of what we now call ‘ Tartan' , was in a German woodcut of about 1631 which is thought

to show Highland soldiers - no doubt mercenaries - in the army of Gustavus Adolphus and wearing a clearly identified tartan philamhor - the great kilt. The next important milestone in the history of tartan was the 1745 rebellion ending with the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and the following genocide in the highlands. The romantic Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart - Bonnie Prince Charlie - ranged his inferior Jacobite forces of Highlanders against the Duke of Cumberland's Government forces. The Jacobite army was organised into Clan regiments and as historian Jamie Scarlett explains "here we have the first hint of the use of tartan as a clan uniform." To understand how this battle proved to be the catalyst for the great Clan Tartan myth, we have to look at the lifestyle and the terrain in which many of Scotland's major families or clans lived at that time. Each area or community grouping would doubtless have, as one of its artisans, a weaver. He - they were invariably men - would no doubt produce the same tartan for those around him and that tartan would initially become what we now call a District Tartan - one worn by individuals living in close geographical proximity such as glen or strath. By its very nature, that community would be one huge extended family that soon became identified by its tartan which it wore, not to differentiate it from its neighbours in the next glen - but because that is what its community weaver produced! It was one short step from there to connect that tartan to the name of the wearers.

All weavers depended very much on local plants for their dyes so the locality of the weaver might well have some bearing on the colours of the tartan that he produced. If he lived on the west coast of Scotland, Gipsywort would give him lettuce green, seaweeds would give him flesh colour and seashore whelks might provide purple. If he lived inland, then he would undoubtedly look to the moors for his colours: heather treated in different ways would give him yellow, deep green and brownish orange; blaeberries (the favourite food of the grouse) would provide purples, browns and blues; over 20 different lichens would give him a wide range of subtle shades. If he was affluent or dyeing and weaving for a customer of some substance, then he would seek more exotic imported colours of madder, cochineal, woad and indigo.

If the concept of clan tartans was born at Culloden it wasn't universally known - in that battle there was frequently no way of differentiating friend from foe by the tartan he wore. The only reliable method was to see with what colour ribbon - sprig – a bit of plant - each combatant had adorned his bonnet which, would differ to show the affiliation to ones Clan. This represented in Scottish Heraldry today as a ‘Plant Badge' that would be worn by a follower to show loyalty to ones Chief. There is a contrary view that this was caused, not by the lack of clan tartans, but by the Highlander's propensity for discarding his cumbersome philamhor (belted plaid) before charging into the fray. After Culloden and the following genocide that occurred throughout the Highlands,the Government was determined to destroy the Clan System and raised an Act of Parliament known as the “The Disarming Act” one of these laws was to make the wearing of tartan a penal offence for the next 36 years until 1782. This proscription however applied only to common Highland men - not the upper echelons of Highland society, not to Lowland Scots and not to women. But most importantly, it did not apply to the Highland regiments that were being formed in the Government army. Clan Identification and Tartan William Wilson and Sons est. 1760 of Bannockburn, near Stirling was relatively unaffected by the ban on tartan (1746 – 1782) and continued to mass produce Setts of tartan for the Military and the Upper classes. The Wilson's "Key Pattern Book" of 1819 documents weaving instructions for more than 200 Tartans - many of them tentatively named - produced at their Bannockburn dye works and weaving sheds.

There is no evidence that Wilson's Tartans had anything whatsoever to do with any ancient regional or pre-1746 patterns. The Tartans worn at the Battles of Sheriffmuir or Culloden have almost all been lost forever. In 1816 an attempt was made to match Clan to 'true' Tartan. Tartans were gathered but these had more to do with regimental uniforms and Wilson's successful marketing than any older patterns. But the idea that Tartan and Clan paired had become firmly established. When the laws were repealed in 1782 there was a resurgence of Scottish nationalism and efforts to restore the spirit and culture of the Highlands

after this lengthy period of repression were encouraged by the newly formed Highland Societies in London (1778) and Edinburgh (1780). Thanks to the personal planning of Sir Water Scott, the 1822 visit of King George IV to Edinburgh was to see Highland Chiefs being persuaded to attend the levee and other functions, all attired in their Clan tartans (some did not go). Almost overnight tartan became popular and families, who probably had never before worn tartan, (and hated the Highlanders) became the proud possessors of family Tartans. This along with Sir Walter's romanticism of Tartan in his novels this was to aid the Clan and the Tartan to become synonymous. Another great boost to tartan came from Queen Victoria and her Consort, Prince Albert. They fell in love with Balmoral - the Royal residence on Deeside in Scotland - and with tartan and all things Highland. Prince Albert designed the now world famous Balmoral tartan and they bedecked room after room with it, further consolidating the Victorians' romanticised view of the 'noble' Highlander.

GENTLEMEN - THE TARTAN Here's to it! The fighting sheen of it, The yellow, the green of it, The white, the blue of it, The swing, the hue of it, The dark, the red of it, Every thread of it. The fair have sighed for it, The brave have died for it, Foemen sought for it, Heroes fought for it. Honour the name of it, Drink to the fame of it - THE TARTAN. (Murdoch Maclean)

Over the last fifty years or so tartan has developed into a multi-million pound industry dominated by a few large mills. Today tartan holds a unique place in the annuals of textile history and has come to symbolise, along with the kilt and bagpipes, the cultural identity of the whole Scottish nation. One thing Murdoch Maclean forgot in his poem was – ‘Be Proud of It' © John A. Duncan of Sketraw 2005