There is no reason you should feel compelled to choose just one. Many of us have multiple kilts in tartans honoring different lines of our heritage. Or even if you plan on only one kilt, you can still wear the other tartan in a tie, scarf, cap, etc (just not with the kilt!).

Assuming you want to select one of these tartans for your kilt, the choice is really up to you. But here are some guidelines people use.

1. What surname do you bear? You say your father's line is Murphy. If that is your name, it is very straightforward for Mr. Murphy to wear the Murphy tartan.

2. Which is your closest genealogical connection? If your Boyd connection is closer than the Murphy, you might want to favor that one.

3. The kilt is a Scottish garment. If your Boyds are Scottish and your Murphys are Irish, that is another reason to favor the Boyd tartan.

4. What side of the family do you feel closest to?

5. What tartan do you like best?

These are all different factors to consider, but in the end it is very much a personal choice.