Question for those who only wear tartans in their bloodline

[cessna152towser]

The Wilson tartan is not strictly speaking a clan tartan as there is no Wilson clan as such. As far as I am aware the surname simply means son of William or Son of Will, and the tartan was invented by Wilson's Mills of Bannockburn in the nineteenth century. Of course it is a beautiful tartan and as I have an Irish great-grandmother whose maiden name was Wilson and from whom my mother's middle name was Wilson, the Wilson tartan is one which I wear from time to time and I don't need to ask any clan chief or anyone else for permission to wear it.

[MacMillans son]

thanks guys. I am a wilson Surname (gunn) but my ancestors are from sweden (possible norse) the only one I can actually trace to is Colquhoun (who said come on).

I guess to be honest I would like a red based tartan and so I have looked at other lines to find one that would fit. Maclean of Argyl is my best connection but it is a ways back. I should probably just say to heck with the association. It is what it is.

thanks for helping me figure it out

Sorry duffy, I'm a bit confused. Are you looking to identify which clan you would most naturally be a member of, or are you trying to justify the wearing of a specific color tartan that you like? If it's the latter, there are a number of non-clan tartans that are red based.

[duffy794]

If your surname goes to the Gunn clan, then I'm with Father Bill. That's your clan. I'm not sure why a clan association would refuse to have you if your surname is tied to it. (?)

That said, I'm a Colquhoun (on my mother's side, as my father's name is English), and we'd be happy to have you.

Oops let me clarify. No society has said no. I just was looking at the different societies and I noticed some of which I had distant blood ties to required a 3 generation rule for membership. I did not talk to them at all.

I fall into the category of wanting to wear tartans I have some tie to, but I don't think I will be of the one clan, one man, one tartan crowd. I want to wear different tartans but I want them to mean something.

I had not seen that color of the Wilson. I need to look at it more. THANKS!

I am trying to figure out what i would consider my "primary" association, but I want to talk to my family members before deciding that. (maybe a dna test) but i thought it would be ok to buy a p/v kilt for knocking around in until I could figure Gunn or Colquhoun for a tank.

The red came in because both of those are blue/green and I wanted a contrast, so I was looking at my ancestors with an associated red kilt. I want to ask permission for distant relations so I looked at the associations, and saw the rule. And well yall are helpful so I thought I would get the opinions of the folk who wear various kilts of who they have ties to.

[Pleater]

Hey - I have ties to Wilson - my father's mother was a Wilson.

They were engineers, working on the steam engines which powered the mills of Yorkshire. My father's grandfather and uncle used to give him sixpence to clean out the fireboxes whilst he was still small enough to fit in through the doors.

There is a link to the Vikings - my father and brother had/have Dupuytren's contracture which is considered to be associated with Nordic people. My grandfather and his brothers did not have it, so the Wilson side is the more likely source.

If you have a connection to a family name then I can't see any reason to avoid wearing the tartan associated with it - as long as you are perfectly sure about it and there is no likelihood of there being an error - sometimes a surname can be associated with different clans depending on where they originated geographically.

Here in the UK it is possible to get hold of all sorts of tartans which are not associated with a surname or clan - if you wanted a particular colourway it would be possible with a bit of searching to find several tartans to chose from, non with clan ties.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[duffy794]

My other post will post soon I hope, but things were also complicated because since the red was going to be a kick around for like ren faires and not wool. I was kind of limited to a few tartans. That also got me going on the Maclean, MacQueen, and Robertson

[California Highlander]

For something knockaround, the Celtic Nations, Celtic Glen, and Duke of Rothsay/Prince of Wales are all red-based, available in a USAKilts casual in PV and not clan-based. Royal Stewart is another option that is frequently available from many vendors in PV, acrylic, and wool.

[Kennedy]

The way I understand it, unless the "kilt police" are around you can wear just about any tartan you want (excepting, of course, the restricted tartans) For me, personally, I wear the tartan of my family name. Cost prohibits me from having a number of kilts, so I just have the one kilt. On the other hand, if I chose to go with the clan of my g-g-grandmother, it would be less costly as Campbell tartan is a much more common and more easily found around than is Kennedy. Go online to see what tartans there are. Pick what you like.

[HenryT]

Duffy, I am a bit confused if you are just looking to wear a certain tartan or be "recognized" as a member of a clan by that clan.

As one response pointed out if your last name is a clan name (or sept of a clan) from Scotland and you trace your descent directly from Scotland; you are a de facto member of the Clan and not need be a member of that Clan Association. Just as Father Bill pointed out. One should be sure of your heritage if you follow this as you may be quizzed by the odd association member. If this is case (last name scenario) then I would wear that particular tartan. Some would say you should only wear that one tartan.

Many Clan Associations will let you join for just having an interest. In my clan, Lamont allows anyone to join if they have an interest. I am a Clan member by name and traceable descent. I consider associations and clans to be distinct two separate entities. I know a gent, a resident of Scotland, who belongs to three different associations because he likes and aids their charitable causes. The tartan he wears depends on the event or meeting he is attending. No one seems offended.

Looking at Clan Frasier of Lovat's website, the current Chief, says the following as to membership (this is just an example, and just from this particular clan), that there are clan members and others:

"I welcome those of Fraser descent, and those wishing to give allegiance to the clan. Non Frasers are welcomed as friends of the clan or "Bowl O'Meal" Frasers. The expression "Bowl O'Meal" derives from my ancestors the 11th Lord Lovat who strengthened the clan by exchanging oatmeal on the condition that men adopt the name Fraser and fight for the clan."

If you are just asking about tartan wearing, there are some very nice District, National, and Commercial Designer ones to chose from, or as some say on the forum, "just wear what you like",

Just some mumbling on my part, hope it helps, standard disclaimers apply, good luck, etc.

Henry



There

[duffy794]

ahh ok. I think I am getting it. thank you all for the help

[MacGumerait]

thanks guys. I am a wilson Surname (gunn) but my ancestors are from sweden (possible norse) the only one I can actually trace to is Colquhoun (who said come on).

I guess to be honest I would like a red based tartan and so I have looked at other lines to find one that would fit. Maclean of Argyl is my best connection but it is a ways back. I should probably just say to heck with the association. It is what it is.

thanks for helping me figure it out

Duffy , I agree with others , this is a bit confusing . Help us help you . Please follow with me here and I'll try to pose the proper points .

1. You are asking about wearing tartans of other clans in your origanlal post and it seems you have that answer .

2. You are stating that your last name is Wilson or is it Gunn ? It's not quite clear by your statement above . The way it's worded it could be either . I understand the relationhip , just not sure which one .

3. If you have ties to Maclean from 8 generations back , then that can come into question by many Clan Associations as that is a long time in regards to historical info .

4. If you are looking for a red based tartan for a new kilt and you want to stay within your current clan knowledge of Wilson then go with the previous suggestions of the Wilson tartan.

5. If you like the Maclean tartan , there is nothing stopping you from ordering that one either .

6. It all stems from from what you are wanting to do . If you want to be clan specific , you pretty much have your answer , if not ( which that is okay ) , there are many red based tartans that are considered universal .

Hope this helps rather than confuse . I don't claim to be an expert , others here have far more knowledge and expertise than myself .

Best regards , Mike