The origin of the Bell Clan in Scotland does not seem to have been definitely recorded. There are various theories that the name Bell came from the old French town of Belle, or from a Frenchman named Gilbert La Fitz Bel and later William Le Bel, or from a shortening of "Isabel", or from the sign of a bell on an inn, or from the priests of the Druid agricultural deity Baal, or maybe from the moors of Denmark and the dales of Norway. This is all very uncertain but was is definite is that Clan Bell settled in southwest Scotland in the 11th century.
The Bell of the Borders tartan is one of three official Bell tartans, based on the colours of the landscapes of the Scottish Borders and the personalities found there. The Bell of the Borders tartan is predominantly sky blue.
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.
The historic seat of Clan Bell is Middlebie, Dumfires & Galloway
Clan Bell 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. Clan Bell's last recognised chief, William Redcloak Bell died in 1628.
The surname Bell likely originated as an occupational name for a bell ringer or bell maker.
Clan Bell populated the 40 square mile area now called Middlebie Parish in Dumfriesshire where more than thirty major families and their numerous sub-families have been identified. There is an old Scot's saying, "As numerous as the Bells of Middlebie."
Clan Motto: I Beir The Bell
Blacket Tower was a fortified defensive tower and home to the Clan Bell dating from the 16th century. Several ballads were written about Fair Helen of Kirkconnel Lea, a tragic story where Fair Helen Irvine, the daughter of the Laird of Kirkconnel on the neighbouring estate, died at the hands of her suitor Richard Bell, resident at Blacket Tower, when she tried to defend her lover Adam Fleming of Kirkpatrick.