Tartan Help - Probably way to much info, but now I gotta zero in on this option

[Steve Ashton]

Another way to look at this whole thing is -

It is not about what name you currently have. If you go back even 5 generations you would have 32 grandparents and 32 different names.

So you do your geanology. Follow the paper trail back to where your people come from in Scotland.

Clans were only in the NW part of Scotland. The vast majority of Scots lived in the cities in the Lowlands and were not part of the Clan system, did not have a Tartan and did not wear kilts.

A person could live anywhere and have any name. You could be 100% Scottish and not be part of a Clan.

So, do your research and find out where within Scotland your people come from. Then we can figure out what Tartan would be most appropriate.

Wearing Tartan tells the world - Who am I? Where do my people come from? What went into making me who I am today? Find a Tartan that answers those questions for you and you have found the most appropriate Tartan.

Today there are around 10,000-11,000 registered Tartans. There are Tartans for just about everything and every one. Yes, Tartans carry names - We have to call them something. But those names are not owned, you cannot have a "right" to wear a Tartan, and there is no 'wrong'.

The 'rules' about what Tartan you should or can wear are simple.

1) Pick a Tartan that has some meaning to you. It may carry your current surname-it may be from where your people are from-it may be affiliated with an organization or company you are part of. Heck the meaning can even be "I like the colors".

2) Know what Tartan you are wearing. Someone will ask.

3) Wear it with pride!

Yes, there are Tartan snobs out there, but there are no Tartan Cops.