Clan Primary Image Mac Alister

Scottish Clans

MacAlister Tartans & Clan

Clan Motto Fortiter (Boldy)

Who Wears MacAlister 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.

  • Alastair
  • Alexander
  • Alison
  • Allison
  • Allister
  • MacAlaster
  • MacAlester
  • MacAlister
  • MacAllaster
  • MacAllester
  • MacAllister
  • MacCalaster
  • MacCalester
  • MacCalister
  • MacCallaster
  • MacCallester
  • MacCallister
  • McAlaster
  • McAlester
  • McAlister
  • McAllaster
  • McAllester
  • McAllister
  • McCalaster
  • McCalester
  • McCalister
  • McCallaster
  • McCallester
  • McCallister
  • MacColaster
  • MacColester
  • MacColister
  • MacCollaster
  • MacCollester
  • MacCollister
  • McColaster
  • McColester
  • McColister
  • McCollaster
  • McCollester
  • McCollister
  • MacAlasdair
  • MacAllasdair
  • MacCalasdair
  • MacCallasdair
  • McAlasdair
  • McAllasdair
  • McCalasdair
  • McCallasdair
  • MacLaster
  • MacLester
  • MacLister
  • McLaster
  • McLester
  • McLister
  • M’Alasher
  • McKallister
  • M’Alester
  • McClester
  • MacEllistram
  • McOlisterr
  • Sanders
  • Saunders

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Macalister Tartans

3 variations

Each 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.

Clan Origin Primary Image Mac Alister

From the start

MacAlister Clan Origins & History

Clan Origin History Image Mac Alister

Explore the history of Clan MacAlister

How it all started

Territories

Clan MacAlister's district is Kintyre in the Scottish Highlands

Clan Chief

The current chief is William MacAlester of Loup and Kennox

Where does the name MacAlister come from?

The name MacAlister means Son of Alasdair. The problem is, there are two candidates for which Alasdair it was and both left behind many male heirs. The person most often described as progenitor to the clan is Alasdair Mor but we can't be sure.

Clan Origin Location Image Mac Alister

Tarbert Castle

Tarbert Castle is located in the small village of Tarbert on the shore of Loch Fyne and was occupied by Clan MacAllister for many years. There was originally buildings on the lands from the 13th Century, but the ruins that stand today were built in the 14th and 15th Centuries. Robert The Bruce enlarged the castle in 1325 and in 1494 James IV re-built the castle and added a Tower House which still stands today. The MacAllister family were constable of the Castle, but this responsibility passed to the MacLean family, but it did return to the MacAllisters again during the 17th Century. The MacAllisters stayed there until 1760 when they moved to Barmore as the castle had fell to ruins by this point.

Historic Seat

Clan MacAlister's historic seat is Kennox House.

Clan Motto: Fortiter (Boldy)


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