According to DNA testing
So how would I find what clan I belong to and tartan I’m entitles to wear? Is it just tracing ancestry or are there rules? What documentation would I need in Scotland if I’m wearing a kilt so Lord Lyon, King of Arms doesn’t beat and arrest me?
I would think tracing your ancestry is definitely the first step. Then you can work to decide which clan you came from and figure out what tartan they wore.
I would be surprised if even Scottish people could discern one tartan from another and which clan it was (or used to be) much less laws about it but that I really do not know.
It’s largely a matter of personal choice. Some go with father’s line, some go with mother’s line, some go with regional tartans.
Bear in mind, a lot of tartan “lore” was developed by the Victorians, influenced by Sir Walter Scott’s novels and George IV’s tour of Scotland, in which he wore full regalia. HIstorically, it wasn’t really very rigid; the colours of tartans were often tied to what kind of native plants in a particular area were available for dying the wool.
The kilt that is commonly wore may have been developed by an Englishman, to reduce the amount of fabric used, because of dangers of his workers getting caught in machinery in his workshop. It’s called the " fillebeg" in Scots Gaelic, meaning the “little kilt”, as opposed to the “Great Kilt”, or “Belted plaid” (“fèileadh-mòr”).
The Lord Lyon will register tartans, but doesn’t have authority to police who wears a particular tartan.
For my own kilt, I used the tartan of my last name, even though that branch of my father’s family came from Ireland. Given their Protestantism, I assume they were Scottish planters, so the connection to the Scottish tartan for that name makes sense. It also coincidentally has a regional connection to my mother’s family in Scotland.
There’s a lot more Scottish surnames than tartans, but for many of them they were aligned with one of the major clans.
If nothing else, one could do like the original London Scottish Regiment and wear Hodden, a plain gray fabric used by hunters.
A couple of links:
George IV on his Scottish trip:
Here’s the register of tartans:
Try their FAQ for how to find the right sort of tartan ( you don’t necessarily need to splash out on a kilt, you could get a scarf or a tie)
There’s no guarantee that your ancestors were in any clan - they might have spent the last millennium in east or central Scotland.
As for “entitlement” to wear any given tartan, there’s no such thing. You can wear what you like. Really, in Scotland no one cares.
How about this?
You don’t have to limit yourself to family tartans. Most U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and many large cities have tartans.
There are several “Jacobite” and “Knights Templar” tartans.
I am curious about the Scottish Nuclear tartan. The company no longer exists, but apparently you can get fabric in their pattern.
I once saw an American “flag” pattern. The red-and-white stripes were predictable. the square blue patches were predictable. But the blue areas had thin white stripes within them. Where the warp and the woof crossed, it created the illusion of bright white stars in the blue field. That was a clever bit of design.
The really cool thing is: it glows in the dark!
If you want to listen to the “experts”-
Royal Stewart tartan… Any tartan you love - or even just like the look of!
Tartans aren’t only for families and clans.
I also learned just the other day that there’s a specific tartan just for clergymen. Maybe just for specifically Presbyterian clergy; not sure on that. Mr. Rogers wore a tie in that pattern for many years.
So if you’re not sure about your ancestry, you could just attend seminary and resolve the question that way.
In addition to the “Scotland for Ever” tartan mentioned in @DrDeth 's link, there’s also “Flower of Scotland” which I think is a good choice:
https://www.scotlandshop.com/en-ca/tartan-finder/flower-of-scotland
Or, skim through the tartans for the Canadian provinces, find one you like, and immigrate to that province. Simple!
Don’t forget to tuck a paring knife in your sock!
There’s at least one company with an app on their website that lets you create your own tartan. If you make it yourself, who can complain? I deliberately didn’t look at the price, though. It’s bound to be more expensive than pre-made cloth.
That’s a sgian-dubh to you, mister. Don’t make me pull mine out!
I was in the wedding party of a friend with Scottish heritage. We all went to a few specialty stores in the area for kilt rental prices, and to learn what tartan he should wear (this was before the internet). I liked it so much, I plan to wear a great kilt with the registered Jewish tartan when I get married (at least this is my opening position. I’m willing to negotiate with my love).
Gesundheit!
A friend of mine is . . . extremely enthusiastic about his Scottish heritage.
One day, we were discussing the subject, and I said, “Well, my dad’s ancestors were mostly English, but my mother’s ancestors were the proud wearers of the ugliest tartan in all of Scotland.”
He thought about it for a moment, and said, “Buchanan?”
I had to admit, he really knew the subject.