Mac Beth colors question

[fhpdo]

I have done a little research and found there is a Bethune line in my family and have been looking at tartans. Bethune is a sept of MacDonald, MacLeod and MacBeth and the MacBeth seems to be the strongest possibility. I have looked at several different tartans and most seem to be dark blue based, except for the one Rocky carries, which seems to have a black background. can anyone tell me if the black based tartan is a proper MacBeth tartan or a variation of it? I will probably order it from Rocky and Kelly either way...my curiosity is just getting the best of me here.
Thanks in advance,
John

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I have never encountered a black based MacBeth tartan. Really, if you change the background of MacBeth to black, you'd have Black Stewart.

I suppose that the one pictured on the USA Kilts site (which I assume is Marton Mills) might be a navy blue that just shows up dark in the photo. Email or call Rocky and ask.

I know House of Edgar makes a MacBeth modern with a navy blue. But most other mills that weave this tartan produce it with a light blue background.

M

[macwilkin]

...to the heraldry & tartans section. Please post all tartan-related queries here.

Regards,

Todd

[fhpdo]

Thanks Matt,
I was thinking it might be navy...hard to tell from the picture. I emailed Rocky so I should know soon. By the way I met your guys at the Tallahassee games, they were very friendly and helpful.
John

[gilmore]

I have done a little research and found there is a Bethune line in my family and have been looking at tartans. Bethune is a sept of MacDonald, MacLeod and MacBeth ...

FYI one surname cannot be a sept of more than one clan, though there may be individuals using the same surname who belong to different clans.

"There is no official list of recognised septs. This is a matter for each chief to determine. But where a particular sept has traditionally been associated with a particular clan it would not be appropriate for that name to be treated by another clan chief as one of its septs."---The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, http://www.clanchiefs.org/clans_who.html