Need some help finding my tartan

**cwr89** · 14th May 07, 07:43 PM

So, I've been searching for some time for my Tartan, I don't know if I have one though, I have been unfruitful in finding any results.

My last name is Ryan. it was about 150 years ago O'Ryan, (O was dropped on voyage from Ireland to USA) I haven't been able to find much of anything other than a coat of arms.

Is there a tartan out there? Is there a clan crest kilt pin? (ok the kilt pin might be stretching it a bit.)

Another thing I have been looking into was my Grandmother's side, Her name was Stradling. I know that her great grandmother had some type of ownership of St. Donats Castle in Whales (?) I know that it is a school now. I haven't really looked into this side of my family for a tartan but I will just ask you guys because your loads smarter than me!

thanks!
~Casey

**Mr. MacDougall** · 14th May 07, 08:01 PM

Many Irish families don't have clan tartans. You'd probably be better off trying to find out where that ship sailed from, and then using the district (county) tartan.

**turpin** · 14th May 07, 09:38 PM

Alternatively, look onto Wesh tartans at the Welsh Tartans Centre, or Kiltstore.net, an X-Marks Advertiser. Enter through the banner at the top of the page for a 10% X-Marks discount.

**Riverkilt** · 14th May 07, 10:20 PM

It doesn't cover Ireland, but you can go to the Surname profiler and find out where folks with your names were living in 1881 and currently.

http://www.spatial-literacy.org/UCLnames/Surnames.aspx

And, there are many fashion tartans...and don't over look the saffron tartan for Ireland.

Or the Ireland's National tartan.

There are various sources for both these tartans. Both these happen to be USA Kilts semi-traditionals.

Of my Irish lines, Doyle, Taft, and Gardener, only Doyle has a fashion tartan. and of the Irish district tartans, Dublin and County Louth, I prefer the Irish National and saffron to both.

And, talk to your elders for geneology information. You may have a great aunt who's done a lot of work or preserved previous work. Genealogy was a popular hobby in the 1800s too.

Happy hunting...genealogy is just another addiction to supplement your kilt addiction.

Ron

**Mr. MacDougall** · 14th May 07, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

It doesn't cover Ireland, but you can go to the Surname profiler and find out where folks with your names were living in 1881 and currently.

http://www.spatial-literacy.org/UCLnames/Surnames.aspx

That's a fascinating little toy, Ron. It let me see that my step-father's family comes from the Scots / English borders, (which, actually, I already knew), and that the MacDougalls come from the north-west of Scotland.

**cwr89** · 15th May 07, 01:59 PM

Thanks for the help. My first kilt was a costume in the Scotch tape green (very similar to Wallace but in green). Then I looked and got a real kilt. I got a Stillwater Economy in Irish National.

but I am just wondering if there was anything more specific for me. thanks for the help!

~Casey

**Mr. MacDougall** · 15th May 07, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by cwr89

but I am just wondering if there was anything more specific for me. thanks for the help!

You could always get Matt's help in designing a tartan for your family. It's expensive, but from what I've seen of tartans he's designed, well worth it.