"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[robthehiker]

It is a common problem in venues other than tartan. In heraldry, for instance, coats of arms are borne by individuals, not entire families as is sometimes misunderstood. The rightful heir to a coat of arms is the direct senior male in the line of descent. Say that grandfather was an armiger, having been granted arms. His eldest son would be the one to inherit them exactly as grandfather bore them, and then his eldest son after him. Other brothers would have to have arms matriculated that bore some difference, such as a distinguishing border or a mark of cadence; so no one, except the direct senior heir male line has a right or entitlement to bear the undifferenced ancestral arms. Yet, it is often the case that unscrupulous bucket shops will sell coats of arms printed out on certificates or painted on plaques to unsuspecting individuals based on nothing more than similarity of name. These individuals, not knowing any better, will often proudly display what they think to be "their" ancestral arms. They may have them engraved on a gold ring, wear them as a blazer badge, have them printed on their personal stationary or calling cards. For the most part there is nothing that anyone can do about it. In Scotland one would, if they hired a lawyer, have legal recourse by taking a case before Lyon Court, but for most of the rest of the world, there is nothing anyone can do to stop these unentitled individuals from bearing coats of arms that do not properly belong to them.

Now I am not suggesting that tartans should be legally protected so as to prevent unentitled individuals from wearing them. Tartans (unlike coats of arms) are usually intended to be worn by more than one individual at a time, most being intended for entire clans or names; yet the situation of entitlement vs. capability is almost identical. Anyone is capable of assuming a coat of arms, but not all those who assume a particular coat of arms are actually entitled to bear them.

I completely misunderstood coats of arms before I came to XMarks. Luckily I was always too cheap to buy one of those "family" versions!

The Scotsman, are you by any chance an armiger? (I hope it's not rude to ask?)

[Macman]

The Scotsman, thank you for quoting Dunakin. I was going to get my copy of his little book out tonight.
I subscribe to his point of view, for the most part (I wear my clan's tartans and some district tartans). This is how I was brought up to think of clan tartans, and I think there are a lot of Scots who still think the same way. My copy of Dunakin's book is from 1960, and you can see from what he was saying that they were having the same issues then that we do now.
Dunakin was also pretty clear further on in the section that anyone could wear any tartan they wanted to, just that there was no "entitlement" (there's that word again) if, for example, one wore a tartan for sentimental reasons (in Dunakin's example, if Granny was a MacGregor before she married).
Yes, there are some who think that you are not allowed to wear another clan's tartan, but I think most of us on this board believe in the freedom to wear whatever you want, even though some of us choose to follow different sets of guidelines for ourselves. We all have different standards that we choose to follow. I often read on XMTS how members will only wear a tartan to which they have a connection, and they define "connection" in their own personal way. That's fine. I guess I'm just agreeing with The Scotsman (I think) that there was (and is, for some) a time when the "rules" as spelled out by Dunakin were followed by most kilt-wearers.

[ForresterModern]

To return to the OP question with another option, if your family name does not have either its own clan tartan, or is a sept of another clan and therefore "entitled" to wear that clan's tartan (let us not quibble about my use of the word entitled), beside choosing a tartan of one of the other scottish ancestors name, or wearing a universal or district tartan, or choosing a tartan that appeals to you simply on appearence, or finding one that may be somehow related to your club membership/profession/military association, you could always start a new tradition for YOUR clan by designing, registering, and having made up into a kilt your own tartan, by using any of the several tartan generators out there on the web, thereby insuring that you get something that visually appeals to you, includes the colors you prefer, and by naming it after your own last name, begin a new patrilineal heritage for your family and offspring to enjoy in future generations. No reason you can't have your own tartan designed and named by and after yourself.

Takes all issue of rights and entitlement out of it, and would be easy to explain its origin, and I doubt you would ever find someone outside your own family who might recognize it on the street. Start your own tradition. And wear it with pride. And well.


jeff

[MacLowlife]

But what if it is ugly?




I am sorry not to be sufficiently reverent on this topic. I do agree, designing ones own is a fine idea and, as discussed elsewhere, is probably not much more expensive than having any other non-stock tartan woven by certain mills. To my stereotypically thrifty Scots mind ( Sandy McThrift brand foods, Scrooge McDuck, etc) it would be better to wear the Gubmint tartan and keep going.

[Joe Cabaup]

... you could always start a new tradition for YOUR clan by designing, registering, and having made up into a kilt your own tartan, ....

This is the philosophy of my wife. We've worked out a modern tartan for our family that we may or may not register in the future. Our family is such a mishmash of stepchildren, second (or third) marriages, stepmothers and stepfathers, "adopted" nannies and "taken-in" brothers and sisters. She feels the only appropriate tartan is one we make ourselves (like our modern family.)

[Joe Cabaup]

When I was growing up and going to the Gatherings and Highland Games throughout New England and Nova Scotia I was told that I could not even wear a kilt, not being directly Scottish. I have noticed this attitude change over the last twenty years. I have worn my Utilikilt and SWK "Nightstalker" to several events and Highland Games over the years and received several compliments on them, not one negative comment.

That being said, I believe the tartan you wear should be of significance to you, either family, region or service. The tartan today, in a crowd of strangers, is a way of linking to other family members, neighbors or brothers/sisters in arms. I have seen the disappointment of someone who fought their way across a busy street in New York City only to find the stranger wearing her family's tartan wore it only because it matched his girlfriend's/wife's outfit.

I have recently found a great-grandmother, eight times removed was a Hamilton. Her grandfather came from Glascow. Does this entitle me to wear the Hamilton tartan? According to some, no. Would I? Only if I felt like telling the story of how I discovered the Hamilton family in my geneology, over and over again to perfect strangers. That could be fun!

[jordanjm]

Find a tartan that has a special connection to you. Where I live there are very few of my clan around. When we had a clan gathering last year for the U.S. members of the clan, and I was surrounded by all that tartan, it was a special occasion. It was special because of the connection we all had to a heritage, and tradition. That is the magic of the tartan, in my humble opinion, heritage, and tradition, a binding together of the generations. Standing on the shoulders of those who came before, and moving forward with strength.

[Micric]

Very well put Matt, Thank you!

Scotsman,

"Whimsey"? I think you will find a goodly percentage here that do not share a privilaged state, and therefore chose and wear a tartan "as a whim" as you put it.
By your definition, (having no rights or entitlement) It would appear I married my girl 32 yars ago "on a whim"!
(I don't think she'd be chuffed if she heard that!)

All I can say is, whim is a fleeting fancy.
Poor choice of wording I would say, and maybe meant to be insulting?...., But I won't take it that way!!

Very best wishes,

from a whimseyTartan anarchist.

[jordanjm]

I would would gos so far as to recommend that people wear a tartan for which they feel a connection to what the tartan represents. I would have no problem wearing a tartan representing family, like my MacGillivray kilt, or my country, USA, or state, Utah, or California as I grew up there, or X-Marks as I feel a member of this community. In fact many of these provide beautiful examples of possible tartans for kilts. In each case I have a reason, or connection. I would never wear a tartan just because it is pretty. This is my opinion, and I would not think less of anyone who thinks differently.

[creagdhubh]

My family name (up through the male line) originates from Northern England - right along the border of Scotland. As far as I can tell, there is no tartan associated with the name. However, throughout my family tree, there are a few scottish families/clans I am related to, though not through the direct male line.

Is there any rule (of thumb, I guess) prohibiting me from wearing any tartans that I may be related to, though not directly (i.e. blood relation)?

Cheers!

Wear any tartan except the Balmoral tartan. That particular sett was designed by Prince Albert during Queen Victoria's reign. Only the Royal Family and some Royal retainers have permission to wear it whilst in Scotland (typically whilst in residence at Balmoral Castle). It's a very handsome sett and can be seen in use by Prince Edward in another thread on XMTS-not too mention the loads of photos you can find of the tartan, just by searching online. Pick a tartan that is most attractive to you, that you may have a connection with, male or female line, and go with that! Good luck mate!