Top 10 most common tartans

**Howard Clark** · 13th March 09, 05:40 AM

Yes I think that where it was would make a big difference as well, Robert.

I have two tartans that I wear just because they are available in the fine regimental weight fabric by Robert Noble on the "surplus" market, since all the highland regiments have been consolidated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Interesting thought though. I will definitely check back on this one.

**CDNSushi** · 13th March 09, 08:22 AM

Well, part of being a member of this wonderful community is that a question such as this will generate some interesting regional responses.

I'm just trying think back to the Highland games here in Tokyo and what did I see a lot of...

Lots of Stewarts... Royal Stewart, Black Stewart, Hunting Stewart, Black Watch, Isle of Skye (saw several), Clark (I think), umm... Otherwise I'd have to go back to my photo gallery to refresh my memory.

**davedove** · 13th March 09, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

But the question here isn't about availability or weights or variety of fabric... You're reading too far into the question if that's how you're looking at it.

I think they go hand in hand though. Because of market forces, the most widely available tend to be those most requested. Thus the most demanded become the most available which become the most popular.

This is of course an overall viewpoint. At any particular event there may be a larger proportion of a particular tartan due to the larger grouping of a particular name.

**Macman** · 13th March 09, 10:46 AM

I see a lot of Hunting Stewarts and Frasers around these parts, Jim. Other than that it's a pretty broad mix of tartans.

**Riverkilt** · 13th March 09, 10:51 AM

Ya know....I've actually paid attention to this over the past few years.

My findings - obviously limited to my own travels - has been that there is no most common tartan at Highland Games (eliminating pipe bands from the survey). I believe the reason is that most folks wanna strut their most distinctive tartans at such affairs rather than wear a "common" tartan.

I enjoy looking at all the varied tartans at a gathering. Its a great part of the fun.

Ron

**Wompet** · 13th March 09, 03:15 PM

I second Ron's answer, with a caveat: don't include most of the pipe bands.
I've seen several dozen different clan and fashion tartans at Highland Games, with multiple tartans in evidence at clan tents (for those that have more than one tartan).
But I've lost track of the number of bands that wear the Royal Stewart. Yes, it's an "universal" tartan, but of the hundreds of tartans to choose, why does every fourth band pick that one? (Although it is entertaining to watch the massed bands become "mashed" bands when two or more bands show up in Royal Stewart kilts, matching diced hose, matching khaki shirts ... and then try marching

)

**Mael Coluim** · 13th March 09, 06:19 PM

It's interesting to look at the 100 Most Common Scottish Surnames to see how it may relate to the 10 most commont tartans. Na, my Scottish surname didn't make the list.

**sathor** · 13th March 09, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

Royal Stewart, Black Watch, and Gordon Dress are probably the three most common tartans in the world.

I have 4 kilts, 1 of each of those and a plain black one.

Eerie.

**SteveB** · 14th March 09, 10:23 PM

This would be subject to the location as at the New Hampshire Highland Games there were many folks strutting the New Hampshire tartan - - The Town of Lincoln Police Department's kilts are all in that tartan and they turn out whether on or off duty at the games, in quantity. After that it is a virtual hodge podge of tartan.The most common kilt colour on the newbies was the black utilikilt, followed by Stewart, and Black Watch.