Scottish Clans
Murray Tartans & Clan
The Royal Society is the oldest Scientific Society still in existence and aims to promote excellence in Science. Robert Moray, the Clan member who helped to found the Society was a soldier, statesman, diplomat, judge, spy and natural philosopher. He counted Cardinal Richlieu, Charles I and II, Samuel Pepys and Christopher Wren among his friends. Today he is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Qui port le Murray tartan? - Noms associés
Tout d'abord pour expliquer pourquoi il y a tant de tartans, bien plus de 2000 en fait. Il y a énormément de clans écossais pour commencer et, en plus, chaque clan peut avoir de nombreux tartans et noms différents qui lui sont associés.
- Balneaves
- Dinsmore
- Dunbar
- Dunsmore
- Fleming
- Moray
- Murrie
- Neaves
- Piper
- Pyper
- Smail
- Smale
- Small
- Smeal
- Spalding
Les régiments associés
Au cours des 300 dernières années, les tartans ont fait partie de la tenue officielle de certains des régiments les plus célèbres du monde militaire ! Les tartans respectifs de ces régiments sont devenus indissociables de l'identité même des soldats qui les portent. Découvrez ci-dessous les régiments associés :
- Atholl Highlanders
- Glenalmond College
- Transvaal Scottish (SA)
Murray Tartans
9 variationsLes 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
Avant 1860, les tissus étaient colorés à l'aide de teintures animales et végétales. Cela permettait d'obtenir les couleurs plus douces typiques des tartans anciens (Ancient), des verts moussus et des bleus ciel, un rouge plus orangé et certains diraient que cela mettait en valeur le motif de manière beaucoup plus efficace, car les contrastes étaient beaucoup plus marqués que dans les tartans modernes (Modern). Le motif reste le même dans toutes les variations d'un même tartan, seules les nuances ou les tons varient.
Quelques constats
Après 1860, les teintures chimiques ont remplacé les teintures naturelles animales et végétales et les tartans modernes (Modern) sont nés avec leurs couleurs plus fortes et plus audacieuses. Les verts et bleus doux deviennent vert bouteille et bleu marine, les rouges sont écarlates.
Modern Tartan
Après 1860, les teintures chimiques ont remplacé les teintures naturelles animales et végétales et les tartans modernes sont nés avec leurs couleurs plus fortes et plus audacieuses. Les verts et bleus doux deviennent vert bouteille et bleu marine, les rouges sont écarlates.
Quelques constats
Les tartans modernes (Modern) sont souvent des combinaisons plus subtiles, comme le classique Black Watch Modern.
Weathered Tartan
Avant 1860, les tissus étaient colorés à l'aide de teintures animales et végétales. Cela donnait des couleurs plus douces et plus terreuses, typiques des tartans « Weathered », qui rappellent des couleurs plus audacieuses soumises au vent, à la pluie et au soleil, produisant de magnifiques tons délavés, des verts olive et des bruns, et des bleus très clairs avec des rouges qui sont plus roses que rouges.
Quelques constats
Certaines usines appellent les tartans altérés par les intempéries « Muted ».
Hunting Tartan
Les tartans de chasse (Hunting tartans) sont les tartans de camouflage et certains clans n'ont pas ces variations parce qu'ils sont déjà à dominante verte ou brune et n'ont pas besoin d'être modifiés pour se fondre dans les couleurs de la nature. Les tartans Black Watch ou Gunn en sont des exemples, tandis qu'un tartan comme le Fraser est à dominante rouge et n'offrirait pas une grande couverture aux hommes qui partent à la chasse.
Quelques constats
Si vous commandez un tartan assorti à un kilt ou à un accessoire existant, n'oubliez pas que, bien que le décor et les couleurs soient identiques, il peut y avoir une légère différence de couleur d'une usine à l'autre. Si vous avez besoin d'une correspondance exacte, nous vous conseillons de commander un échantillon pour vérifier.
Dress Tartan
Les tartans d'apparat (Dress Tartans) ont été conçus, comme leur nom l'indique, pour les célébrations et les danses des Highlands. Le motif du tartan reste le même, mais la couleur principale est remplacée par du blanc, ou du blanc supplémentaire est ajouté au motif pour lui donner un aspect plus brillant et plus « fantaisiste ». Les Écossais aiment contourner les règles et utilisent parfois du jaune au lieu du fil blanc. C'est de là que viennent les MacLeod Dress Modern et Barclay Dress Modern, qui sont plutôt extravagantes.
Quelques constats
Si vous commandez un tartan assorti à un kilt ou à un accessoire existant, n'oubliez pas que, bien que le décor et les couleurs soient identiques, il peut y avoir une légère différence de couleur d'une usine à l'autre. Si vous souhaitez une correspondance exacte, nous vous conseillons de commander un tartan de la même couleur que celui de votre kilt.
Dès le début
Murray Clan Histoire & Origines
Découvrir l'histoire de Clan Murray
L'Écosse ne manque pas d'histoires à raconter
Territories
The mighty Clan Murray originated in the 12th century with one bold man named Freskin. It has often been claimed that he was a Pict, but it is now believed that he was most likely a Flemish knight hired by David I of Scotland to help him keep control of his kingdom. It seems that Freskin did a good job, as the King granted him bountiful lands in West Lothian and Moray.
Freskin’s descendants inherited his daring and striving nature, and countless branches of the family set up across Scotland, acquiring numerous more territories.
One of the clan’s most striking territorial gains occurred in 1600, when Sir David Murray was awarded the lands of Scone in Perthshire by James VI and given the title ‘Lord Scone,’ and later, ‘Viscount of Stormont.’
This was a particular honour, as the estates included an ancient hill on which the Kings of Scotland were traditionally crowned. David’s heirs went on to become the prestigious ‘Earls of Mansfield,’ and built the stunning Scone Palace!
Clan Chief
The current Chief of Clan Murray is Bruce George Ronald Murray, the 12th Duke of Atholl. He was born in Louis Trichardt, South Africa, in 1960 and inherited the title from his father on the 15th of May 2012.
In 2000, he was named Lieutenant Colonel of the Atholl Highlanders, a private infantry regiment that essentially act as a personal bodyguard to the Murray Chief on ceremonial occasions. Not many modern-day clan chiefs can claim such an impressive display of support!
D'où vient le nom Murray?
The origin of Clan Murray’s name is relatively self-explanatory! Freskin, the clan progenitor, encouraged his sons to adopt the surname ‘de Moravia,’ meaning ‘from Moray,’ to solidify their ownership of the local land. This then evolved to ‘Murray’ to echo the Lowland Scots pronunciation. The ‘Murray’ spelling was never adopted for the geographical area, but it remains the most common form of the surname to this day!
Do Clan Murray have a Plant Badge?
A clan plant badge is a small cutting of a specific plant or flower that was once commonly worn in a bonnet or attached to the shoulder of a tartan sash. Along with the crest and arms, the plant badge was a powerful symbol that clan members could use to signify their loyalty to their chief and belonging to the family. Popular lore also suggests that plant badges were indispensable in the chaos of battle, as they helped men distinguish friend from foe with just a quick glance!
Clan Murray has two main picks. The Murrays of Atholl use juniper, a plant long associated with strength and protection. The striking juniper tree can serve as a home for more than 40 species of insects and fungi!
Other branches of the clan typically go for the evocatively named ‘butcher’s broom,’ which was supposedly once used by butchers to sweep their chopping boards. It boasts beautiful red flowers, but also has a scarier side! It is adorned with extremely spikey ‘cladodes,’ or flattened shoots, that can inflict nasty scratches.
Together, the two plant badges, juniper and butcher’s broom, provide a concise representation for Clan Murray: accepting and protective, but not afraid to fight when necessary!
Image credit butcher's broom: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE - Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus), CC BY-SA 2.0
Winning Power and Influence
Clan Murray have shown a keen ability for building a prestigious reputation and winning power and influence. Numerous branches of the family have been given impressive titles, including the Gordon Earls of Sutherland, the Earls of Dunmore, the Earls of Mansfield, and the Dukes of Atholl!
In 1736, the 2nd Duke of Atholl inherited the sovereignty of the Isle of Man. This gave him the right to create his own coinage and hold his own parliament! The 3rd Duke graciously passed over control to the British Crown in 1765, but the Atholl family still honour this fascinating part of their heritage by displaying the Isle of Man’s symbol in their Arms.
Blair Castle
Over 19 generations, the Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl have backed winners and losers, fallen in and out of political favour, won battles and lost them. They have almost all, in one way or another, left their mark on Blair Castle. The story will take you from Mary, Queen of Scots to the Civil War, and from the Act of Union to the Jacobite cause and the disaster of Culloden, and from the Isle of Man to Queen Victoria’s love affair with the Scottish Highlands and her presentation of colours to the Atholl Highlanders.
Image credit: © Guillaume Piolle, CC BY 3.0
Do Clan Murray have a Clan Crest?
The Murrays have long had several different crests, due to the multiple branches of the family. The one pictured here is described as ‘a mermaid holding a mirror in her dexter hand and a comb in the sinister.’ The design is usually surrounded by the motto ‘tout prest.’
The mermaid is a popular, ancient Pictish motif that symbolises balance, power, and strength, while the mirror and comb are often used to represent wealth and prestige.
A fitting choice for the mighty Murrays!
Another of Clan Murray’s crests is described as ‘centre, on a Wreath Or and Sable a demi-savage Proper wreathed about the temples and waist with laurel, his arms extended and holding in the right hand a dagger, in the left a key all Proper.’
This means that it displays a black and gold belt, with a wild man in the centre. The man is decorated with laurel leaves around his head and waist and both his arms are raised. In one hand he holds a dagger, and in the other he holds a knife.
While this might seem like the perfect design for the ferocious Clan Murray, it actually has a fascinatingly tumultuous history!
Sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s, the Lord Lyon declared it to be ‘inappropriate,’ and banned its use. This caused a great amount of anger and upset amongst the Murrays, and when the 10th Duke of Atholl gained his position, he appealed the decision with the Court of Lord Lyon. Finally, in the 1980s, the ruling was reversed, and the Clan were allowed to reclaim their old crest.
Following this victory, the chief decided that the Demi-Savage should become Clan Murray’s one official crest.
Do Clan Murray have a Society?
If you have any Murray heritage, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a number of thriving clan societies you could join to connect with your peers and celebrate the history of this mighty family!
The Murray Clan Society of Scotland and the UK was formed on the 17th of January 1962 in Edinburgh by the 13th Lord Elibank, Alastair Erskine-Murray, with the aim of ‘promoting social links among people bearing the name Murray and stimulating interest in the history, culture, and traditions of the Murray clan’ in order to help members feel closer to their ancestors.
Find out more, including how to join, on their website here. There is also the Murray Clan Society of North America, who you can discover here.
They list their goals as ‘cultivating a spirit of kinship and pride, collecting historical and genealogical records, and providing a gathering place at the various Highland Gatherings throughout North America.’
Both groups are extremely friendly and welcoming to new members, so we would highly recommend checking them out!
Are Clan Murray connected to a River?
Clan Murray lived on the banks of the scenic River Earn for centuries. The Earn originates at St Fillans, then runs east through Strathearn, before forking to the east and south, and joining the River Tay near Abernethy.
Throughout its course, there are countless beauty spots that are extremely popular with locals and tourists alike. It attracts numerous visitors every year who enjoy the winding, peaceful walking paths along the water, and the calming, ancient lines of beech trees that tower over certain sections of the route.
What’s more, it is not only blessed with a wealth of clan history, it also played a key role in the Roman invasion of the north! The fascinating Strageath Roman Camp was once situated not far from the river’s shores.
Image credit: Brian Forbes - Flickr: River Earn, CC BY 2.0
Do the Clan Murray Society have a Piper?
Clan Murray maintains strong musical traditions to this day. The Clan Murray Society even has its own official piper! Ross McNaugton, a member of the Atholl Highlanders, says that ‘it is a huge honour to represent the clan.’ He plays at society events and other high profile, ceremonial occasions, such as the annual clan gathering, formal dinners, ceilidhs, and fundraising events.
Ross is a truly talented musician, qualified as an Army Pipe Major to level 8, and holding an HNC in Music from the National Piping Centre. The Murrays are lucky to have such a passionate and skilled instrumentalist to help them celebrate their heritage!
Clan Battles
Clan Murray had a longstanding feud with Clan Drummond, which led to the notoriously bloody Battle of Knockmary in 1511. It is thought that this particular clash started when the Murrays raided the Drummond’s land, an obvious insult and taunt to the Drummonds.
The Drummonds decided that they could not let the instance go unpunished, so they recruited the help of the nearby MacRobbies and set after Clan Murray. The two groups met on the south bank of the River Earn and, despite being outnumbered, the Murrays came out victorious, leaving the battle with few men lost, and all the spoils of their raid.
The Drummonds were further incensed by this outcome, so decided to gather more support, before pursuing the Murrays again.
The Murrays were tired from the recent fight by the lake, so decided to retreat when they saw the Drummonds had followed them, and took refuge in the church of Monzievaird, bringing their wives and children with them to shelter.
When the Drummonds found them, their desire for revenge was so strong that they acted entirely against the usual clan codes of honour and virtue, and set fire to the old church, trapping, and killing all those inside. It is thought that 160 men, along with their families, were murdered.
When King James IV found out about this, he was horrified, and ordered the arrest of several members of the Drummond family. The leader of the attack and several associates were found guilty of gross immorality and executed at Stirling Castle.
Image credit: Mausoleum at Ochtertyre, built on the site of the old church by M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Do Clan Murray have a War Cry?
Clan Murray has two main mottoes. The first is ‘Tout Prest,’ or ‘All Ready,’ reflecting their ability to leap into action whenever needed, at just a moment’s notice!
The second refers to a more specific event in the clan’s history. ‘Furth Fortune and Fill the Fetters’ means ‘Go Forward with Good Fortune and Take Hostages,’ and alludes to the Earl of Atholl capturing the last Lord of the Isles in 1475.
Both sayings certainly paint an accurately formidable picture of the clan!
Who are the Atholl Highlanders?
Clan Murray commands Europe’s only official private army! The Atholl Highlanders were first raised as a regiment in 1777 by John Murray, the 4th Duke of Atholl, to support other troops serving in North America, although they ended up spending most of their time in Ireland.
Many years later, the group received a prestigious royal stamp of approval. In 1842, the Atholl Highlanders escorted Queen Victoria on a tour of Perthshire, and in 1844 they stood guard during the entire time the Queen stayed as a guest at Blair Castle. She was so grateful for their service that she presented the regiment with official colours, therefore giving them official status!
To this day, the group continue to attend the current Duke of Atholl at ceremonial occasions.
Image credit: August Schwerdfeger - Own work, CC BY 4.0
Do Clan Murray have a Tartan?
If you would like to buy a Clan Murray tartan, you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice!
Here at ScotlandShop, we stock 9 variations: Murray of Atholl Modern, Murray of Atholl Ancient, Murray of Atholl Weathered. Murray of Atholl Muted, Murray of Elibank Ancient, Murray of Tullibardine Modern, Murray of Tullibardine Ancient, Murray of Tullibardine Weathered and Murray of Tullibardine Muted.
Displaying your clan’s tartan is the perfect way to connect with your heritage, and we’d love to help you find the perfect way to do so.
We offer an extremely wide range of products, from crafting materials, to cozy cushion covers, to sophisticated dresses. The colours range from beautiful burnt oranges to royal blues, earthy greens, and striking reds, so you’re sure to find something to suit your own personal style!
Clan Motto: Tout Prest (Quite Ready)
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