Why so many tartans per clan name?

**Draelore** · 18th July 09, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by Highlander31

This is the case with my clan's tartan (MacGregor.) There are ten tartans listed as being MacGregor. Our chief recognizes only four as clan tartans.

Welcome to the forum.

The Campbell has 6 tartans, but only 4 are recognized by the Duke of Argyle (Ancient and Weathered versions do not count as separate tartans)

**ronstew** · 18th July 09, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Highlander31

There are ten tartans listed as being MacGregor. Our chief recognizes only four as clan tartans.

Originally Posted by Draelore

The Campbell has 6 tartans, but only 4 are recognized by the Duke of Argyle (Ancient and Weathered versions do not count as separate tartans)

Campbells and MacGregors are lucky. By looking at different tartan sites, I have tabulated 90 Stewart and Stuart tartan names, counting modern weathered and ancient as three different tartans. I am sure that many on my list are the same tartan with different names. I have found Stewart of Fingask, Stewart of Fingask #1 and Stewart of Fingask #2, which may be one, two or three tartans, but I counted them as three. Also, there are numerous tartans called Stewart Variant that I counted as one.

Many on this long list are plainly fashion tartans; but where do you draw the line between "fashion" and "official" tartan? I'd argue that Black Stewart is a fashion tartan, but since I hope to have an inheritance, I won't make that argument with my father, who wears Black Stewart.

I don't know enough of my family history to know if I qualify for Stewart of Appin, Ardshiel, Atholl, Bute, Erracht, Fingask, Galloway, Killiecranky, Rothesay, Urrard, or none of the above.

As far as I can tell, the head Stuart is Queen Elizabeth. And as far as I an tell, she has never stated which, if any, is the official Stewart tartan. She, herself, wears Royal Stewart, of course.

Now, is the choice of ninety tartans a blessing or a curse?

Finally, any family name with more tartans than Stewart has??

**ghostlight** · 18th July 09, 08:56 AM

Welcome to X Marks the Scot.

**Dr Mac** · 18th July 09, 09:05 AM

from Bryan/College Station

**mrtackytn** · 18th July 09, 09:29 AM

Welcome to X-Marks - from Music City, USA - Nashville, TN !!

**McFarkus** · 18th July 09, 10:10 AM

from Chicago

**MacKay71** · 18th July 09, 10:18 AM

Welcome to X-marks from Atlanta!

**mcclainms72** · 18th July 09, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Tattoo Bradley

You've asked a question that gets asked often, and for good reason! It can all be certainly be confusing.

Matt wrote a fantastic article on this, so I'll let his article explain far better than I ever could.

And just a side note. I wear a weathered version of my family tartan (Henderson) in any and all settings as I see fit. It's all in the difference in shoes, sporran, jacket etc.

Good article. Thanks, that helps.