Scottish Clans
Cochrane Tartans & Clan
Dundonald Castle in Ayrshire was purchased by the Cochranes in the 17th Century and today is maintained by Historic Scotland. Built around 1371, Scots King Robert II, grandson of Robert the Bruce, was its first owner. Clan Cochrane retained ownership of Dundonald Castle all the way up until 1953, when the 13th Earl gifted it to South Ayrshire Council who, in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland, transformed it into a priceless public attraction.
Qui port le Cochrane tartan? - Noms associés
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.
- Dundonald
- Cochran
- Cocrane
- Cocran
- Cochren
- Cockram
- Cockran
- Cockren
- Cockron
- MacEachearn
- McEachern
- McEachran
- McEchern
CochraneTartans
2variationsLes couleurs d'un tartan peuvent être rendues suivant des nuances variées, ce qui conduit à des variations possibles dans le rendu d'un même tartan. qualifiées de ancien, modernes, weathered, hunting et dress.
Pour expliquer les variations de tartan
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
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.
Quelques constats
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.
Quelques constats
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.
Quelques constats
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.
Quelques constats
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.
Dress 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.
Quelques constats
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
Cochrane Clan Histoire & Origines
Découvrir l'histoire de Clan Cochrane
L'Écosse ne manque pas d'histoires à raconter
Territories
It is thought that the Cochrane Clan originated with a lone Viking explorer who settled in Renfrewshire between the 8th and 10th centuries.
The records suggest that the family set up in Paisley and quickly established themselves.
The earliest official mention of the name seems to be Waldev de Coveran, who is noted as a witness to a charter in 1262.
From then on, the Cochranes pop up in numerous significant events, including the election of the Paisley Abbots, for which John de Coveran served witness.
One clan member, Goseline de Cochran, even managed to ally himself with King Robert II of Scotland, appearing frequently in royal charters!
In 1638, Sir William Cochrane acquired the Dundonald Estate in Ayrshire, complete with castle, becoming the first Earl of Dundonald in 1669.
In 1653, the Cochranes bought the lordship and barony of Paisley from the Earl of Angus and moved into the Palace of Paisley, cementing their status as one the most powerful families in Renfrewshire.
The Clan continued to venture across Scotland, building their reputation and acquiring countless more castles and lands, from Oban to Moray.
Image source above: Auchindoun Castle, Dufftown by Bob Marshall - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Clan Chief
The current Clan Chief is Iain Alexander Douglas Blair Cochrane, the 15th Earl of Dundonald.
Born in 1961, Cochrane studied at Wellington College before going on to gain a degree at the Royal Agricultural University.
He inherited the chiefdom from his father in 1986 and now lives at Lochnell House, a true family establishment, built in the 1700s by Sir Duncan Campbell, 7th Lord of Lochnell.
D'où vient le nom Cochrane?
There are several different theories about the origins of the Cochrane name, but they all allude to the family’s outstanding strength and bravery.
It is widely believed that Cochrane formed as a combination of two Gaelic words meaning ‘battle cry,’ or ‘roar of the battlefield,’ painting a clear picture of the clan’s fighting prowess!
There is also a fascinating old legend about the birth of the noble Cochrane name. The story goes that, long ago, an early member of the clan volunteered to fight in a great battle. Supposedly, his daring, skill, and courage stunned his allies and terrified his enemy, and he easily led his side to victory.
After such an impressive show of valour, his leader singled him out from the rest of the men and declared him to be a ‘coch ran’ or ‘brave fellow.’
The name then stuck fast, presumably aided by the fact that many of his relatives and descendants boasted a similarly admirable spirit.
Auchindoun Castle
Today a lonely ruin, the scenery around Auchindoun Castle near Dufftown is quite spectacular standing at 1000ft and well worth the short trek across fields and moorland to reach it. This L shaped fortress was built in the 1400s possibly by Thomas Cochrane, known to be a favourite of King James III.
The ground falls away sharply to the south and east into the valley of the River Fiddich putting the occupiers in prime position to control one of the main routes south. Sir Adam Gordon purchased the Castle in 1567, but it was burned down in an act of revenge by William Mackintosh. It has lain derelict since 1725.
An Adventurous Spirit
Clan Cochrane have always had an adventurous spirit and have never been afraid to explore new lands, even across the ocean!
In 1682, Sir John Cochrane of Ochiltree emigrated to America, acquiring 12,000 acres in Carolina which he used to set up a community for fellow clan members that also made the trip.
From here, the family continued to travel over the US, giving many villages and towns the Cochrane name and spreading the clan’s legacy far away from home.
Do Clan Cochrane have a Plant Badge?
Clan members would wear plant badges to demonstrate their loyalty to their chief and fellow clansmen. They were most commonly worn attached to a bonnet behind the clan crest, or pinned on the shoulder of a sash.
The Cochrane plant badge is the sea holly, also known as the eryngium. It has spiney leaves and somewhat resembles the thistle. It seems a very fitting choice for the mighty Cochranes, as it traditionally represents independence, strength, and admiration!
An Innovative Clan
The Cochranes may have had a bigger impact on your daily life than you expected!
Did you know that the first practical dishwasher was invented by a descendant of the clan?
Josephine Cochran designed the first successful hand-powered dishwasher, having it patented in December of 1886.
She then founded the Garis-Cochrane Manufacturing Company to manufacture and distribute her creation.
Do Clan Cochrane have a Clan Crest?
The clan crest is an extremely powerful and deeply meaningful symbol for clan members, as it is worn as a way of proclaiming dedication to the family.
The Cochrane crest is described as ‘a horse passant Argent,’ meaning it displays a horse in the act of walking, in the centre of a belt emblazoned with the clan motto ‘virtute et labore.’
Do Clan Cochrane have a Society?
The Clan Cochrane Society is a thriving and active organisation, which, though it is based in North America, accepts members from all over the world. They list their objectives as ‘extending the links of kinship and friendship between Cochranes, wherever they may be’ and ‘providing a focal point for all members of the Clan and interested visitors.’
You can find out how to join here: https://clancochrane.org/.
Their website is also a great source of clan history, so be sure to check it out if you are looking to learn more about the Cochranes!
Clan Battles
Clan Cochrane are so renowned for their military prowess that they are commonly referred to as the ‘fighting Cochranes.’
One of these ‘fighters’ was so notorious that Napoleon once called him ‘the wolf of the seas.’
Thomas Cochrane, the 10th Earl, is thought to be one of the greatest seamen in the Navy’s history.
Arguably his most impressive feat took place in 1801, when he managed to capture a Spanish ship, despite being outnumbered 6 to 1!
Cochrane was manning a vessel named ‘Speedy,’ commanding 54 men and 14 guns, and pursuing the Spanish ‘El Gamo,’ which was much better equipped, with 319 men and 32 guns. He didn’t let this deter him however, and instead employed a cunning plan to confuse his enemy.
He steered ‘Speedy’ so close to ‘El Gamo’ that the Spanish army’s guns were unable to fire, then whenever the crew tried to board and attack, he quickly withdrew, leaving them unable to reach him.
He continued this dance until the Spanish were baffled and exhausted, opening up the opportunity for him to capture El Gamo.
This is still considered one of the most staggering achievements in British naval history, and has inspired countless retellings, carrying the Cochrane name into the modern day!
Image Source: Michael Garlick
Do Clan Cochrane have a War Cry?
Clan Cochrane’s motto is ‘Virtute Et Labore,’ or ‘With Valour and Effort.’ The Clan seems to take this very much to heart, as their bravery and drive to succeed can be seen clearly across numerous generations.
From Goseline de Cochran forging royal connections in the 14th century, to Thomas Cochrane ruling the seas in the 19th century, the family certainly have more than their fair share of courage and perseverance!
River Fiddich
From the Cochrane’s historic clan seat, Auchindoun Castle, you can enjoy stunning views of the river Fiddich, particularly popular with fans of fishing, walking, and whisky!
It flows for a distance of around 20 miles and is surrounded by a variety of breathtaking landscapes, attracting countless visitors each year.
It is also a nature hotspot, with many locals and tourists alike flocking to its shores to witness the striking sight of salmon swimming upstream.
As well as animal lovers, the river also draws in many whisky enthusiasts, as the distillery of Glenfiddich whisky, the world’s best-selling malt whisky, is located very nearby!
Image source: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0
Do Clan Cochrane have a Tartan?
Clan Cochrane’s tartan features a vibrant mix of greens, reds, yellows, blues, and greys, so if you are a fan of a pop of colour, you’re in luck!
Here at ScotlandShop we stock two main variations: Cochrane Modern and Cochrane Ancient. The modern option boasts bold hues and deep tones, while the ancient variant is softer, though certainly no less striking.
Owning your own Cochrane tartan is the perfect way to foster connection with your clan, and we have plenty of options to offer you. Perhaps you are looking for a wedding outfit and could do with a new kilt?
Or if you pride yourself on your creativity, why not treat yourself to a cutting of 100% wool fabric and fashion your own, unique Cochrane items!
Clan Motto: Virtue Et Labore (By valour and exertion)
En découvrir plus...
