Scottish Clans
Hamilton Tartans & Clan
Taking the name of a town in England, a Norman named Walter Fitz-Gilbert of Hambledon, moved to Renfrewshire. He is first mentioned in a 1294 charter given to Paisley monastery giving the privilege of fishing for herring in the Clyde, to which he is a witness. Later, during the Wars of Independence, Fitz-Gilbert was governor of Bothwell Castle on behalf of the English, but he came across to Bruce’s side and was rewarded with a portion of confiscated Comyn lands.
Who Wears Hamilton Tartan? - Associated Names
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.
- Hammilton
- Hamelton
- Hameldon
- Hamildon
- Hamylton
- Hambleton
- Hamill
Hamilton Tartans
6 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- 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
Ancient Tartan
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.
Helpful Advice
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.
Modern Tartan
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.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
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.
Helpful Advice
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
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.
Helpful Advice
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.
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 Tartan
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.
Helpful Advice
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.
From the start
Hamilton Clan Origins & History
Explore the history of Clan Hamilton
How it all started
Territories
Clan Hamilton’s territories are principally in the Lowlands of Scotland. Walter FitzGilbert, the originator of the Clan, was from Renfrewshire, but was given wider lands as reward for his support of Robert the Bruce. He was granted territory in the Lothians and Lanarkshire, including the land of Cadzow, which by 1445 was known as Hamilton Town. Consequently, the Hamilton family grew into a powerful clan and their line spread as they continued to acquire grand properties and estates.
Clan Chief
The current chief is Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, a Scottish nobleman and the Premier Peer of Scotland. He was born on the 31st of March 1978, and became the 16th Duke of Hamilton on the 5th of June 2010, following the death of his father. He is also the Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the hereditary bearer of the Crown of Scotland; as part of this role, he walks immediately before the monarch in the ancient ceremonial procession known as the Riding of Parliament. You also may have spotted him at the remembrance service for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, as he placed the Crown of Scotland on the Queen’s coffin.
Where does the name Hamilton come from?
It is believed the Hamilton Clan originated with a Norman called Walter FitzGilbert of Hambledon, who appears in a charter to the Monastery of Paisley in around 1294. The name is thought to derive from the village of Hamilton or Hameldune near Barkby in the county of Leicestershire. It comes from the old English elements "hamel," which means "blunt," "flat-topped," or "crooked," and "dun," which means “hill” or “farm.” Put together, it would have meant something along the lines of “farm on the crooked hill!”
Hamilton Palace
James Hamilton, the 2nd Earl of Arran and Regent of Scotland when Mary Queen of Scots was a child began the building of Hamilton Palace. The main residence of the Dukes of Hamilton from 1591 to 1919, Hamilton Palace was sadly demolished in 1920 due to subsidence caused by coal mining. Nothing remains of the former place today, apart from a stone in the playing fields that now occupy the site. Without their palace the Hamilton family moved to Dungavel House near Strathaven.
The Seat of Clan Hamilton
Hamilton Palace was the Historic seat of the clan and was built in 1695 by the 3rd Duke of Hamilton. This was proudly known as the largest non-royal residence in Europe. The palace encountered excessive subsidence due to the families mines which unfortunately led to it's demolition in 1921. Today the family live in Lennoxlove House in East Lothian.
What is Clan Hamiltons Plant Badge?
The Hamilton’s Clan Plant is the bay leaf, which symbolises courage and strength. It has also long been associated with wisdom and victory, with poets and heroes traditionally being crowned with wreaths of bay leaves.
The Legend of the Hamilton Motto
There is an early 13th century legend that tells the tale of how the Hamiltons got their Clan motto ‘through,’ which displays the cunning and courage of the clan, even before they had officially formed. The story goes that the knight Sir Gilbert de Hambleton, the father of Clan progenitor, Walter FitzGilbert of Hambledon, killed John de Spencer in a fierce debate about Scotland. Sir Gilbert, like his son, was in favour of Robert the Bruce, whereas John believed it was treacherous to talk favourably about the Scottish king. Since John was a close friend of King Edward II, Sir Gilbert feared for his safety, and wisely decided to flee north. However, on the journey, Sir Gilbert and his servant realised they were being pursued. They quickly came up with a cunning plan to swap clothes with 2 nearby woodcutters, to disguise their identity.
When the soldiers passed by, the 2 fugitives pretended to start cutting down an oak and Sir Gilbert gave a convincing performance, shouting ‘through!’ as he wielded the borrowed axe. The soldiers barely gave the pair a second glance, and rushed straight past, allowing Gilbert and his companion to escape. Years later, the Clan drew strength from this story of bravery and quick wit, adopting the cry “through” as their motto and including an oak tree and a frame saw in their crest.
Do Clan Hamilton have a Clan Badge?
The Hamilton crest functioned as a symbol of allegiance used by clan members to show loyalty to their chief and to each other. It is described as ‘in a ducal coronet an oak tree fructed and penetrated traversely in the main stem by a frame saw proper, the frame Or.’ This means that the crest is bordered by a gold frame, and depicts an oak tree in bloom, with a saw driven through the trunk.
Do Clan Hamilton have a Society?
If you are a descendant of Clan Hamilton, you are lucky to have a thriving and well-established society you can join to learn more about your heritage and connect with other members!
The society list their aims as: to honour Scottish Heritage, to collect and preserve literary, historical and genealogical records relating to the emigration of Hamiltons, and to promote the general interests of the Hamiltons and cultivate the spirit of kinship and fellowship among all Hamiltons.
The Hamilton Mausoleum
The Hamilton Mausoleum, the resting place of the Clan’s Chiefs, is located on the grounds of Hamilton Palace, which was sadly demolished in 1932. It is open to the public, so you can visit to connect with the ancient Clan grounds or pay respect to your noble ancestors.
What is Featured on the Clan Hamilton Coat of Arms?
A coat of arms is a heraldic badge worn to show allegiance to a certain family or clan. The Hamilton Arms is described as ‘quarterley, 1st and 4th, Gules, three cinquefoils, Ermine; 2nd and 3rd, Argent, a lymphad (galley), Sable, sails furled, Proper, flagged, Gules.’
This means that the Arms are split into 4 quarters. The 1st and 4th sections contain three flowers against a red background. The 2nd and 4th quarters are white and depict a single-masted ship propelled by oars, with its sails billowing as if in mid journey.
The History of Clan Hamilton
Clan Hamilton artifacts are spread across the world and can be seen in a number of prestigious museums, including the National Museums of Scotland, the V&A, The British Museum, The Louvre, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts!
Clan Hamiltons Royal Connections
The Hamiltons have some early royal links! In 1474, James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, married Princess Mary, daughter of James II of Scotland. Their son was James Hamilton, the 1st Earl of Arran. The family lived in Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran.
Are Clan Hamilton associated with a Loch?
While Clan Hamilton has no strong links to a specific loch, the Avon Water formed a backdrop to the family’s life. The Avon Water runs through the hills along the boundary between East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire; it then flows in a northeast direction, passing Drumclog, Strathaven, and Larkhall. Beyond this, the river borders Chatelherault Country Park, which is now a place for the public to enjoy the ancient woodland and connect with nature, but once belonged to the chiefs of Clan Hamilton. The water made up part of the grounds of Hamilton Palace; it’s easy to imagine the family spending their days exploring, riding, and walking along the river, much like the local community do today!
Do Clan Hamilton have a Tartan?
The Hamilton Tartan consists of three broad blue or navy stripes crossing another trio of broad stripes split by single thin white lines. This pattern is either set against a red or green background, and we stock modern, ancient, and weathered varieties.
We have many items you can choose from, from flat caps to kilts to brogues. With all this choice, you’re sure to find the perfect piece to help you connect with your mighty ancestors!
Clan Hamilton
Tartan Poll
With 5 tartan variants to choose from, the Hamilton Clan is truly spoilt for choice. But which is your favourite Hamilton Clan Tartan? Vote now!
Top 5 Facts
Clan Hamilton
Learn about the clan's beginning, plant badge and the fable of their clan motto. Discover the Hamilton Clans top 5 facts, how many do you know?
Clan Hamilton
Famous Faces
Clan Hamilton is arguably one of Scotland’s most ancient and noble clans, and their descendants certainly live up to this pedigree! From US politics to musical theatre to Formula One, Hamiltons have found success in an impressively broad range of fields. Read our Famous Faces of Clan Hamilton blog to find out more!
The Castles of Clan Hamilton
We've got some great recommendations for you in our latest clan castles blog! Come with us to explore some remarkable sites related to Clan Hamilton, from a grand ancient palace to an eerie castle with a few resident ghosts!
SCOTLANDSHOP ON THE SOFA
The Story of Clan Hamilton
Discover the interesting history of Clan Hamilton, from its modest beginnings circa 1294 to present day Hamiltons, we discuss it all. If a spooky ghost tale piques your interest then Clan Hamilton certainly have their share. The clan are famous for their grand architecture and love for the finer things, do you perhaps have Hamilton blood flowing in your veins?
Clan Motto: Through
