District Tartans

**Bryan** · 26th August 07, 08:26 AM

Now that we solved the issue of septs and families, I'm interested in District Tartans. Since the Butters owned land around Perthshire, I guess it stands to reason that wearing the Perth tartan is a viable option for myself.

But my question is, (Matt, are you listening?!) when did the current offering of district tartans come about? I assume that these were the first types of tartans possibly worn by people of all families in a particular district before the clans had their own tartans made and registered.

Thoughts?

**pdcorlis** · 26th August 07, 08:28 AM

Look here...

http://www.district-tartans.com/

**MacWage** · 26th August 07, 09:57 AM

Best I can tell, specific district tartans arose about the same time as "clan tartans," and for the same reason.

Wilson and Sons in Bannockburn play a LARGE part in both.

**MacWage** · 26th August 07, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by pdcorlis

Look here...

http://www.district-tartans.com/

(That is Matt's site. SO, it is rather good and I trust it.)

**pdcorlis** · 26th August 07, 10:27 AM

Yup - everything you ever wanted to know about district tartans but were afraid to ask...

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 26th August 07, 01:22 PM

Speaking in general, the use of named district tartans arose about the same time, and together with, the use of named clan tartans. For instance, the Aberdeen district tartan can be documented to 1794 and is probably older than that. This is much earlier than we can date many of our clan tartans.

However, district tartans have never been as popular as clan tartans, so you'll find fewer of them in the record. This also means that a lot of the district tartans themselves are more modern in design.

Which brings me to my second point. Speaking in specifics, a lot of the district tartans are much newer. We have new clan and family tartans, as well, but it seems like a lot of the growth in tartans has been in the area of district tartan designs.

Speaking of Perth, there are two Perthshire tartans. The older one is primarily red and dates back prior to 1819. It was later adopted by the Drummond clan and is now produced under the name "Drummond of Perth." The newer Perthshire tartan is primarily green and was designed in 1988 by Peter MacDonald.

District tartans are wonderful choices for kilts. Many have long considered them tartans to wear "if you don't have a clan tartan," but it seems that as more people learn about them, they are considering them as good alternatives to clan tartans.

I have a two kilts in district tartans -- Mull and Carolina. So one old tartan, and one new!

Aye,
Matt

**Bryan** · 26th August 07, 04:36 PM

While we are on the subject of District Tartans, just how accurate is the information given by the Scottish Tartans Authority? Matt, you would probably know best.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 26th August 07, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Bryan

While we are on the subject of District Tartans, just how accurate is the information given by the Scottish Tartans Authority? Matt, you would probably know best.

About as accurate as any other tartan information source that is available. That is to say, mostly correct, but not infallibly so. The good thing is that they make frequent updates, so if you see an error, let them know and it gets corrected pretty fast.

M

**Bryan** · 26th August 07, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

About as accurate as any other tartan information source that is available. That is to say, mostly correct, but not infallibly so. The good thing is that they make frequent updates, so if you see an error, let them know and it gets corrected pretty fast.

M

That's the problem. I have no idea if they make an error. lol