Benson Tartan

[macwilkin]

Folks,

Thank you for your hospitality, but let's try to keep threads on a specific topic such as this one "on-topic" as much as possible. We can always welcome the new members in the "newbie" section -- that's what its there for, after all.

Thanks!

Todd

[cessna152towser]

from the Scottish Borders.

Tartan Ferret brings up a modern Benson of New England tartan and also Roxburgh Red. Guy Roxburgh, the current Duke of Roxburghe lives about twenty miles from here at Floors Castle but I'm not aware of the Roxburgh/Benson family connection.
http://www.floorscastle.com/scottishborders/castle.cfm

[macwilkin]

from the Scottish Borders.

Tartan Ferret brings up a modern Benson of New England tartan and also Roxburgh Red. Guy Roxburgh, the current Duke of Roxburghe lives about twenty miles from here at Floors Castle but I'm not aware of the Roxburgh/Benson family connection.
http://www.floorscastle.com/scottishborders/castle.cfm

Most likely the connection is via the Roxburgh district tartan, as Roxburgh may have had a large number of Bensons residing there at some point.

T.

[cessna152towser]

Most likely the connection is via the Roxburgh district tartan, as Roxburgh may have had a large number of Bensons residing there at some point.

I live within Roxburgh District of Scotland and I have never known the Roxburgh tartan worn locally as a district tartan.
There would seem to be good reason why Roxburgh should be regarded more as a District tartan than a Family tartan though, as the name derives from the historic city of Roxburgh (now just a small village). Roxburgh is not common as a family name and indeed the Duke's family would have adopted this surname when the first Duke of Roxburghe was created - they would have been known by another name - could possibly have been Benson - in earlier times.
The name Benson is however not uncommon within Roxburgh District, and there are currently eleven Bensons listed in Scottish Borders area telephone directory. There is also a Roxburgh in New Zealand whose wines are well known here.

[macwilkin]

I live within Roxburgh District of Scotland and I have never known the Roxburgh tartan worn locally as a district tartan.
There would seem to be good reason why Roxburgh should be regarded more as a District tartan than a Family tartan though, as the name derives from the historic city of Roxburgh (now just a small village). Roxburgh is not common as a family name and indeed the Duke's family would have adopted this surname when the first Duke of Roxburghe was created - they would have been known by another name - could possibly have been Benson - in earlier times.
The name Benson is however not uncommon within Roxburgh District, and there are currently eleven Bensons listed in Scottish Borders area telephone directory. There is also a Roxburgh in New Zealand whose wines are well known here.

The STA lists the Roxburgh tartan as a district tartan, as well as Matt's district tartans web site:

http://www.district-tartans.com/roxburgh.htm

Of course, many district tartans also serve as "family" tartans; for example, my Cumming hunting (ancient colours) tartan also serves as the Buchan district tartan and the tartan for Clan Buchan.

T.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The Benson (New England) tartan (No. 6465 in the ITI) was designed by Bensons in Vermont, for all of the family name.

There is no "Benson Clan." Because there is no clan cheif, or otherwise head of family, there is no one with the authority to say what is and is not the proper tartan for the family.

Like many Scottish names who have no tartan of their own, and no clan affiliation, people of the name have modernly designed a tartan for the name. You are free to wear it if you wish!

The Roxburgh district tartan would reflect the area in Scotland where the name was from (apparantly, I haven't done any research on the Bensons myself, so I'm just assuming that this link is accurate).

Aye,
Matt

[jdbenson]

This is great! Thanks everyone for all the great information and resources. Now I've just got to decide on the tartan (that Roxburgh Red is really nice). I'll let you know when I make my choice!