Scottish Clans

MacDuff Tartans & Clan

Clan MacDuff was the first clan to be recognised as a Clan.
Clan Motto Deus Juvat (God Assists)

Who Wears MacDuff 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.

  • Duff
  • Fife
  • Fyfe
  • Fyffe
  • Hume
  • Kilgour
  • Spence
  • Spens
  • Weems
  • Wemyss

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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 Duff

Dès le début

MacDuff Clan Histoire & Origines

Clan Origin History Image Mac Duff

Découvrir l'histoire de Clan MacDuff

L'Écosse ne manque pas d'histoires à raconter

Territories

The MacDuffs traditionally held the Kingdom of Fife and had thei seat at MacDuff's Castle near East Wemyss

Clan Chief

Clan MacDuff 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.

D'où vient le nom MacDuff?

MacDuff comes from an old Gaelic personal name Mac Dhuibh.

Clan Origin Location Image Mac Duff

MacDuff's Castle

The MacDuff Castle was built by the MacDuff family in the 11th Century, it is located just outside of East Wemyss in Fife and is the historic seat of Clan MacDuff. At the time the castle was built the MacDuff family were the most powerful family in Fife. By the 14th Century the castle was owned by Wemyss family, who were descendants of the MacDuff's, and they still own the Castle today. In the 1960's the castle was considered so dangerous that it was blown up so as not to be dangerous to the public. All that is left is two small walls of remains hidden in amongst trees.

The first clan

Clan MacDuff the first clan to be recognised as a Clan. The Scottish Parliament recognised Clan MacDuff in legislation in 1384, this legislation also granted certain powers to the MacDuffs, chief among the rights they achieved was the right to enthrone the King of Scotland.

Clan Motto: Deus Juvat (God Assists)


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