Scottish Clans
MacNeil Tartans & Clan
Who Wears MacNeil 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.
- MacGougan
- MacGrail
- MacGugan
- MacGuigan
- MacNeal
- MacNeale
- MacNeilage
- MacNeill
- MacNelly
- MacNiel
- Neal
- Neale
- Neil
- Neill
- Neilson
- Nelson
- Niel
- Nielson
Macneil Tartans
5 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.
Dès le début
MacNeil Clan Histoire & Origines
Découvrir l'histoire de Clan MacNeil
L'Écosse ne manque pas d'histoires à raconter
Territories
L'histoire de Clan MacNeil commence sur l'isle de Barra dans les Outer Hebrides en Ecosse. En 1427 une autre filiale de MacNeil était établie sur l'ile de Gigha dirigé par Torquil MacNeil. Les deux lieu de ces filiales de Clan MacNeil sont devenu important en 1493 quand les Barra MacNeils affichent leur allégeance à la Clan MacLean dans une inimitié longue entre les MacDonalds de Islay et les MacLeans de Duart. Les Gigha MacNeils ont choisi de lutter au côté de Clan Donald.
Clan Chief
Le chef du Clan MacNeil actuel depuis 2010 est Rory MacNeil, 27ieme chef de Clan MacNeil, qui a succédé à son père Ian Roderick MacNeil, Le MacNeil de Barra, Chef de Clan Niall, Baron de Barra et 26ieme Chef. Les documents montrent le premier Chef de Clan MacNeil remonte au 1049, et le Roi légendaire Irlandais Niall, descendu de Aodh O'Neil, vingtieme de neuf otages.
D'où vient le nom MacNeil?
Clan MacNeil est aussi connu en ecosse comme Clan Niall. Le nom MacNeil est d'origine de prénom Neil, et le nom MacNeil traduit du gaelique comme fils de Neil.
Kisimul Castle
Le Chateau Kisimul fut le siège historique du clan MacNeil, qui se trouve sur un île dans les Hébrides extérieures d'ecosse, sur le côte atlantique de Castlebay Barra. On décrit Kisimul comme "château mythique planté sur un rocher en milieu de mer". Les Hébrides extérieures sont forme d'un groupe d'îles: Lewis, Harris et St Kilda, Berneray, North Uist, South Uist et Barra. Le clan MacNeil est proprietaire des terres de Kisimul dépuis le 11ieme siècle. Le chateau était construit en 16ieme siècle, abandonné en 16ieme siècle, puis restauré mi-20ieme siecle par Robert Lister MacNeil, le Chef de Clan MacNeil
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Pendant des siècles le clan MacNeil vit sur l'îsle des Hébrides de Barra, fier d'être descendu du Roi "plus important" d'Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall des Neuf Otages). L'Irelande est dominée par la dynastie du roi Niall des Neuf Otages entre le 5ieme et 10ieme siècles. Il a obtenu son nom a cause du strategie qu'il a engagé contre ses adversaires de prendre des hotages. Le Roi, qui est mort en 405AD, etait créateur de la plus longue et la plus puissante dynastie royale irlandais et connu comme plus grand des roi que le irlande allait connaître.
Clan Motto: Buaidh No Bas (Conquer or Die)
Explore More...
