Connecting surnames to tartans and/or clans

**Zyzzyx** · 26th January 07, 10:04 PM

After a 15 year hiatus my mom decided to get back onto the genealogy kick. Growing up I remember her always working on it, she had done some thorough and documented research to get us back about 7 generations, about when they came to the U.S., she hasn't delved into stuff across the pond yet. This work was before the whole 'internet genealogy' scene, so it was with documentation, be it paper or stone. (gravestone rubbings) ;)

I've known that we've got a lot of Scottish and English background on my mom's side of the family. I took a look at some of the older names on her charts, try to see what I could find for tartans.

The first couple were fairly easy, Wallace (my middle name) and Williams (long stretch of Williams family); lots of tartan for those two. I expected to find something for McNamee, didn't on first looks. But for the others, a quick search on some of the 'tartan finder' sites didn't come back with anything. I'm wondering if either they're more English than Scottish

A quick listing of some of the other names, see if they ring a bell (or a tartan!) with anyone:

Engle
Higgins
Snelling
Dewoody
Bowman
Moore
Tully
Tandy
Scott
Mills

Anyway, as my mom gets back into some more detail with the genealogy, I'm starting to get into the details of finding some tartans that would fit with old family names, this is my beginning.

**Cawdorian** · 27th January 07, 05:54 AM

There are at least two names on your list that are Scottish, Moore is a variation of Muir and of course Scott. You should be able to find a tartan for both names.

Take a look at www.electricscotland.com they have loads of information on clans, septs and names associated with clans.

Good luck with your search!

**Tattoo Bradley** · 27th January 07, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Cawdorian

There are at least two names on your list that are Scottish, Moore is a variation of Muir and of course Scott. You should be able to find a tartan for both names.

Take a look at www.electricscotland.com they have loads of information on clans, septs and names associated with clans.

Good luck with your search!

My thoughts exactly.

You should check out Riverkilt's photo gallery (it's in his signature) or do a search for his "Scott kilt by Kathy Lare." It is stunning.

**Frog** · 27th January 07, 02:24 PM

Bowman is a sept of clan Farquharson.

Frog

**Cawdorian** · 29th January 07, 05:36 AM

There you go, that makes three now! At this rate you're going to have an entire closet full of kilts.

**Dirk Skene** · 29th January 07, 05:41 AM

The Scotland Forever site is good. Spicificly I'd say to try this link

http://www.clanfinder.com/foreversco...clanfinder.asp

**cajunscot** · 29th January 07, 05:51 AM

A caution: remember that sept lists really should have some genealogical backing behind them. For example, some of my Scottish relatives bear the surname Williamson, which is frequently listed as a "sept" of the Gunns, Mackays, Macfarlanes and Macleods -- but, when I did some research many years ago, I discovered that my Williamsons were from Dunfermline in Fife -- so it would be more appropriate for me to wear the Fife district tartan, or even the MacWilliam (Williamson) tartan.

Regards,

Todd