Want to kilt up...need advice. NOOB post!

**ctbuchanan** · 15th August 16, 11:12 AM

Just a quick look up and it would seem that both names have origins in England. That is NOT to say they could not have made their way up to Scotland, I'm only talking historical origins.
Lowder may be your best best as it seems a locational name from Cumbria on the Scottish border
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/lowder

Haley seems to have originated in the Yorkshire area
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Haley

Hope this helps. I tend to agree that the logical choice would be to use your Smith name tartan. Smith is a sept of MacPherson but I would stay away from that if you know your Smith ancestors weren't the Scottish link.

Aye yours,
CTBuchanan

**ctbuchanan** · 15th August 16, 11:26 AM

One more interesting web site to look at a couple of census maps
It shows the names Haley and Lowder in Scotland.

http://gbnames.publicprofiler.org/

This if from the National Trust

**ShaunMaxwell** · 15th August 16, 11:53 AM

If you're not certain of the spelling (Lowder), I wonder if it might be Lauder?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauder

If that's the case, you might consider one of the Berwick District tartan options:

https://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartan/Berwick-District/31435

As for Smith, I have a kilt in Marton Mills 16 oz. Smith ancient colors, which I think is nice:

I agree that it's always preferable to wear a tartan you have a connection to if at all possible.

Good luck to you!

SM

**iKiltIt** · 15th August 16, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by ShaunMaxwell

If you're not certain of the spelling (Lowder), I wonder if it might be Lauder?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauder

If that's the case, you might consider one of the Berwick District tartan options:

I seem to remember my Grandmother had a book that she wrote and had traced her family tree as well as my grandfathers family tree all the way down to me (she did this genealogy for me so I would know where I am from) and I remember seeing the name Lauder in there somewhere. I also remember her saying that we had Irish blood somewhere, but Im not sure exactly from where. Maybe it came from the Haley side (her maiden name)? I guess I'm just conglomerate. LOL.

**Edit...just called my mother and she confirmed the name Lauder is in that book. She still has it and is sending it to me.

**auteurusa** · 15th August 16, 05:52 PM

As an aside, that Smith tartan is beautiful. Where did you come by the tartan, and did you craft the kilt yourself ?

**iKiltIt** · 15th August 16, 06:03 PM

That Tartan IS beautiful! I may end up with that one as my first.

**Pegasys** · 16th August 16, 03:44 AM

I wish i could remember what book this thought came from ... but here goes ... ' when choosing your tartan in times past mostly , you would most likely choose the tartan from your mothers side ' . when I raed this it caught me first as not right , but the authoer went on to say that historically , often you might not know the name of or even who your faather was , but you always knew who your mother was ...