French "Bailif" or from the surname Bailliol?
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.
At the start of the 14th century, William de Baliol acquired the property of Lamington in Lanarkshire. His son, Sir William Baillie, was granted a charter confirming the ownership in 1358. Sir William helped re-establish the family's fortune and from him descend the branches of Carphin, Park, Jerviston, Dunrogal, Carnbroe, Castlecarry, Provand, and Dochfour. A younger brother, Alexander Baillie was appointed constable of Inverness Castle by the Earl of Huntly.
Clan Baillie is an armigerous clan which means that the clan, family or name is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon, but does not currently have a chief recognised by the Lyon Court.
The origin of the name Baillie is disputed as coming from the French "bailif" which means estate manager, or from the Norman name Bailliol. It is said that due to the unpopularity of the name Balliol after the ascension of Robert the Bruce to the Scottish crown, many changed it to Ballie.
William Baillie of Hoprig was knighted by David II in 1357 and, in 1368, was given a Charter for the barony of Lamington. The title, Baillie of Lamington, having often been held by females, finally fell vacant in 1880.
The family's fortunes began to decline after their lands were held as forfeith for their part in the Battle of Langside on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1636, George Baillie of St. John's Kirk (a branch of the Lamington Ballies) bought the lands of Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, and the estate of Mellerstain, Berwickshire, in 1643. His son Robert Baillie of Jerviswood (1623-84), was the civil and religious reformer executed for his views. His family were forced to flee to Holland. Robert's son, George Baillie of Jerviswood and Mellerstain (1664-1738), married Lady Grisell Hume (1665-1746) in 1691. They started the building of Mellerstain House and are the ancestors of the present earls of Haddington.
Clan Motto: Quid Clarius Astris (What is brighter than the stars)