Clan Primary Image Leslie

Scottish Clans

Leslie Tartans & Clan

John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, wrote the History of Scotland to amuse Mary, Queen of Scots during her imprisonment.

Clan Motto Grip Fast

Who Wears Leslie 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.

  • Abernethy
  • Lesslie
  • Jessie
  • Lelli
  • Lennie
  • Leckie
  • Laslie
  • Helie
  • Emslie
  • Lesnik
  • More
  • Moir
  • Muir

Associated Regiments

Over the last 300 years, tartans have been a part of official dress for some of the most famous regiments throughout the military world! Their respective regimental tartans became undisputedly tied to the very core identity of the soldiers who wear it. Explore the associated regiments below:

  • King's Own Scottish Borderers

Shop Leslie Tartans & Clan From Curtains to Clothing, use the filters below to navigate through everything we offer in Leslie Tartans

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.

Clan Origin Primary Image Leslie

From the start

Leslie Clan Leslie Clan Origins & History

Alexander Leslie Heir to the Earldom of Rothes Lord Leslie

Explore the history of Clan Leslie

How it all started

Territories

Aberdeenshire

Clan Chief

The current chief is the Honorable Alexander Leslie.

Where does the name Leslie come from?

The surname Leslie is likely to originate from Leslie in Fife.

Clan Origin Location Image Leslie

Balquhain Castle

Balquhain Castle was originally built during the 14th Century, the Leslie family occupied the Castle and surrounding grounds in 1340 and it is the historic seat of Clan Leslie. The Castle is located in Aberdeenshire, just outside of Inverurie, inside the boundaries of a farm. The Castle was destroyed during a feud with the Forbes family in 1526, but was re-built shortly after in 1530. The Leslie family stayed in the Castle until 1710 when the last family member moved and the Clan occupied grounds at fetternear instead. The Castle was burned by the army of Prince William in 1746, and today still lies as remains.

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Did you know? The Leslie tartan was worn by the British Army Regiment, The King's Own Scottish Borderers.

Clan Motto: Grip Fast.


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