I haven't had much luck finding information linking these two clans, but I admit that I've only really done cursory searches.

I know that the Ferguson and MacLaren tartans differ only in that the latter has a yellow stripe whereas the former has a white. Otherwise they're identical. For those unfamiliar with either tartan, my avatar is Ferguson; replace the white with yellow and you have MacLaren.

I also know that both clans had allegiances to Murray of Atholl. But other than raising arms for the same cause, does anyone know if the Fergusons and MacLarens are intertwined or of the same stock?

Mostly, I'm curious if there's a reason they both choose to use almost identical tartans. Surely that must have caused some confusion at some point -- white and yellow must have looked pretty similar.