The first of the Cummings (Comyn) Clan to come to the UK was Robert Comyn, a chum of William the Conqueror. When Robert came to these shores in the eleventh century he was made the Earl of Northumberland. His Family grew in power over the years, eventually having two claims to the throne of Scotland. During the thirteenth century Clan Cumming was the most powerful Clan in Scotland but this came to an end when Robert the Bruce challenged and defeated the Cumming's claim to the throne, leaving the clan in tatters.
First of all to explain why there are so many tartans, way over 2000 in fact. There are an awful lot of Scottish clans to start with and on top of this each clan can have many different tartans and names associated with it.
Each tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Clan Cumming has lands throughout Scotland, however, the Clan seat is at Altyre House in Forres, Moray
The current chief is Sir Alexander "Alastair" Penrose Cumming of Altyre
The surname is possibly derived from the place-name Bosc-Bénard-Commin, near Rouen in the Duchy of Normandy, or from Comines, near Lille, in France
Reached by boat or canoe Lochindorb Castle is a beautiful and bleak place built by the Cummings in the 13th century. Comyn is the other name the Cummings are known by and the fortress is also called Comyn Castle, stronghold of what was then the most powerful clan in the Highlands. Loch-in-dorb loch is two miles long and the island the Castle is built on shows signs of being partly artificial.
Clan Cumming's War Cry is "Fhad 's a bhios maide sa choill, cha bhi foill an Cuimeineach" - As long as there is wood in the forest, there won't be deceit from Clan Cumming
Clan Motto: Courage