Tartans not of your lineage

[Holcombe Thomas]

I haven't had all that much luck with it myself, but you can sometimes find the manifests for the ships in which people immigrated to the US. Where the ship departed and her history on other voyages might be helpful.

Oh, and while it has been discussed here before, the LDS church has a huge trove of genealogical information, which they are happy to share. There are volunteers at the Family Research Centers who can help with their records and point you in the way of other records.

I am very much an amateur in genealogy. Someone with some real expertise will likely come along shortly.

Holcombe

[macmanjim]

I haven't had all that much luck with it myself, but you can sometimes find the manifests for the ships in which people immigrated to the US. Where the ship departed and her history on other voyages might be helpful.

Oh, and while it has been discussed here before, the LDS church has a huge trove of genealogical information, which they are happy to share. There are volunteers at the Family Research Centers who can help with their records and point you in the way of other records.

I am very much an amateur in genealogy. Someone with some real expertise will likely come along shortly.

Holcombe

It's even worse with my dad's family from Italy. Totally dead ends at my great grandparents. Seems like the english, german and french parts were a little better. At some point I'll bite the bullet and pay for Ancestry's extended stuff, at least for a month. If that doesn't help, I'll look elsewhere. Another thing I'd like to do is a DNA analysis. I wonder who does the best RE nationalities?

[Tobinn]

A very interesting read but I'm not 100% sure the original question was put to rest (perhaps and probably because it can't?) which is: is it okay to wear any tartan one pleases?

Or, in doing so, is one just asking for? I think it's probably safe to assume that most folks (including me) really wouldn't know which clan/region/county goes with which tartan so it's probably, mostly, moot.

I imagine that there are sticklers who would opine that you stick with the appropriate tartan or go with a universal/fashion one. I expect that there's another camp which says to go with what you like.

Has anyone been called out for wearing the "wrong" tartan? How did that conversation go? Do most folks just get whatever tartan floats their boat? I've found the "Parry" tartan but it only comes in wool (as far as I can see) and I'm in the market for PV plus, if I'm honest, it's red-based and I'm more partial to greens, browns and blues (I'm an earth-tone sort of guy).

I've done some poking around past threads but doing a search on "Tartan" is, ummm, overly productive... If there any threads to this effect just point me in the right direction.

As always - thanks much!!

[macmanjim]

A very interesting read but I'm not 100% sure the original question was put to rest (perhaps and probably because it can't?) which is: is it okay to wear any tartan one pleases?

Or, in doing so, is one just asking for? I think it's probably safe to assume that most folks (including me) really wouldn't know which clan/region/county goes with which tartan so it's probably, mostly, moot.

I imagine that there are sticklers who would opine that you stick with the appropriate tartan or go with a universal/fashion one. I expect that there's another camp which says to go with what you like.

Has anyone been called out for wearing the "wrong" tartan? How did that conversation go? Do most folks just get whatever tartan floats their boat? I've found the "Parry" tartan but it only comes in wool (as far as I can see) and I'm in the market for PV plus, if I'm honest, it's red-based and I'm more partial to greens, browns and blues (I'm an earth-tone sort of guy).

I've done some poking around past threads but doing a search on "Tartan" is, ummm, overly productive... If there any threads to this effect just point me in the right direction.

As always - thanks much!!

I would feel weird wearing something I am not connected to at all, so I have gotten universal tartans like heritage of scotland, black watch and now scotland national. When I get to my target weight, I will get one that I have some connection to: Anderson, Buchanan and maybe Scott. I love some others, like Mackintosh, Gordon Dress, Mackenzie and MacBeth and some say wear them with pride, but...I don't know.

[ThistleDown]

A very interesting read but I'm not 100% sure the original question was put to rest (perhaps and probably because it can't?) which is: is it okay to wear any tartan one pleases?

Or, in doing so, is one just asking for? I think it's probably safe to assume that most folks (including me) really wouldn't know which clan/region/county goes with which tartan so it's probably, mostly, moot.

I imagine that there are sticklers who would opine that you stick with the appropriate tartan or go with a universal/fashion one. I expect that there's another camp which says to go with what you like.

Has anyone been called out for wearing the "wrong" tartan? How did that conversation go? Do most folks just get whatever tartan floats their boat? I've found the "Parry" tartan but it only comes in wool (as far as I can see) and I'm in the market for PV plus, if I'm honest, it's red-based and I'm more partial to greens, browns and blues (I'm an earth-tone sort of guy).

I've done some poking around past threads but doing a search on "Tartan" is, ummm, overly productive... If there any threads to this effect just point me in the right direction.

As always - thanks much!!

I can only speak from experience in Highland Scotland and in Western Canada. In the former it is unusual (but not unheard of) to wear a tartan not associated with your surname. The exceptions are: the military, pipe bands and highland dancers. I suppose there are some who have been 'called out' for wearing the 'wrong' tartan, but I have never heard such a thing. Folks are far too polite.

In British Columbia there are many who wear other than their surname-associated tartans, but again, I have never heard them 'called out' for doing so. What I have never seen, in either of my homelands, is the wearing of another family's tartan. Exception: hired Highland dress for special occasions. That happens in both Scotland and BC and I applaud it, although I do wish the hire firms would get the accessories right

[Tobinn]

I can only speak from experience in Highland Scotland and in Western Canada. In the former it is unusual (but not unheard of) to wear a tartan not associated with your surname. The exceptions are: the military, pipe bands and highland dancers. I suppose there are some who have been 'called out' for wearing the 'wrong' tartan, but I have never heard such a thing. Folks are far too polite.

In British Columbia there are many who wear other than their surname-associated tartans, but again, I have never heard them 'called out' for doing so. What I have never seen, in either of my homelands, is the wearing of another family's tartan. Exception: hired Highland dress for special occasions. That happens in both Scotland and BC and I applaud it, although I do wish the hire firms would get the accessories right

What do you mean when you say that there are many who wear other than their surname-associated tartans but they don't wear another family's tartan? If you're not wearing your family's tartan and you're not wearing a "universal/fashion" tartan wouldn't you then be wearing another family's tartan? I suspect there's a nuance I'm not understanding.

[ThistleDown]

What do you mean when you say that there are many who wear other than their surname-associated tartans but they don't wear another family's tartan? If you're not wearing your family's tartan and you're not wearing a "universal/fashion" tartan wouldn't you then be wearing another family's tartan? I suspect there's a nuance I'm not understanding.

Hmmm. Don't think I said "universal/fashion" tartans aren't worn. Lots of those around and I wear the Skye on occasion myself. That's a "fashion" tartan. I suppose that the Government (Black Watch), the Red Stewart and the Hunting Stewart have become "universals". There are some regional tartans that seem to be acceptable if you are from that region. The very beautiful Lochaber comes to mind. What you don't see is a Macdonald wearing a Buchanan, or a Scott wearing a Gunn.

[Tobinn]

Hmmm. Don't think I said "universal/fashion" tartans aren't worn. Lots of those around and I wear the Skye on occasion myself. That's a "fashion" tartan. I suppose that the Government (Black Watch), the Red Stewart and the Hunting Stewart have become "universals". There are some regional tartans that seem to be acceptable if you are from that region. The very beautiful Lochaber comes to mind. What you don't see is a Macdonald wearing a Buchanan, or a Scott wearing a Gunn.

Oh, no. You are correct, sir. You certainly didn't say that universal tartans aren't worn. You misunderstand me. I was unclear. I meant something different.

For example, at USAK, there are a number of tartans which include the word "Universal" in parenthesis which I take to mean that anyone may wear without exception. The rest don't. For example, MacKenzie Mod., which I happen to fancy, doesn't include "Universal" in the title. So, is it a faux pas of sorts to wear the MacKenzie tartan if one doesn't have lineage to that surname?

I also like the USAK Glyndwr [Universal] and Holyrood [Universal] tartans so I figure these are good to go for anybody. But how about the MacKenzie? Does it count that my 12 year old son is friends with a girl (his age, of course) named MacKenize?

I guess I just don't want to make a "fashion" faux pas my first time out.

Again, thanks much!!

[Liam]

I need to come out of the closet and admit that I own and wear a kilt that I have no clan or regional association with. It was an ebay find in my size and is my “pub kilt”. It is very well made and comfortable Olgilvie tartan.
In fact Iwore it yesterday to have lunch at the Royal Canadian Legion.

[ThistleDown]

Oh, no. You are correct, sir. You certainly didn't say that universal tartans aren't worn. You misunderstand me. I was unclear. I meant something different.

For example, at USAK, there are a number of tartans which include the word "Universal" in parenthesis which I take to mean that anyone may wear without exception. The rest don't. For example, MacKenzie Mod., which I happen to fancy, doesn't include "Universal" in the title. So, is it a faux pas of sorts to wear the MacKenzie tartan if one doesn't have lineage to that surname?

I also like the USAK Glyndwr [Universal] and Holyrood [Universal] tartans so I figure these are good to go for anybody. But how about the MacKenzie? Does it count that my 12 year old son is friends with a girl (his age, of course) named MacKenize?

I guess I just don't want to make a "fashion" faux pas my first time out.

Again, thanks much!!

I'm not clear on what you ask. If USAK says that Mackenzie Modern is a "universal" tartan then they are incorrect. If, however, they neglected to say that tartan was "universal", then they are correct -- it is not. You can pretty well go with what USAK says because they do good research before they stock and tell all.

"Of a sorts" it would be a 'traditional' faux pas to wear a recognised Mackenzie as though it were your son's own. Not a catastrophe -- no sky will fall on him and (probably) no bullets will fly. But that sort of commitment might be worth a second thought on your part