Scottish Clans
Ferguson Tartans & Clan
The boars' heads which appear on most shields of the Ferguson family signify the connection with the early Scots of Dalriada who travelled from Ireland to Argyll.
Who Wears Ferguson 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.
- Fergie
- Fergus
- Fergusson
- Ferries
- Forgie
- Keddie
- Kiddie
- Macadie
- MacFergus
- MacKeddie
- MacKerras
- MacKersey
- Fergushill
- Ferrie
- Ferris
- Farris
- Forgan
- Grevsack
- Hardie
- Hardy
- Keddle
- Kidd
- Kydd
- MacCade
- MacErries
- MacFergus
- MacFhearguis
- MacFirries
- MacHerries
- MacInlay
- MacIrish
- MacKadie
- MacKestan
- MacKiddie
- MacMagnus
- MacTaver
FergusonTartans
6 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
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
From the start
Ferguson Clan Origins & History
Explore the history
How it all started
Territories
Clan Ferguson come from Argyll, Perthshire and Dumfries and Galloway, the Clan's seat is at Kilkerran in Ayrshire
Clan Chief
The current chief is Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran, 9th Bt.
The name Ferguson comes from MacFhaerghuis which can be translated to "the sons of the angry." However, at ScotlandShop.com we know that the Fergusons are in truth a lovely bunch
Formerly Barclanachan
13 miles south east of Ayr lies Kilkerran House and Estate, home to a branch of the Kennedys prior to the Fergusson Clan. The first Fergusson in Ayrshire was recorded in 1381 and the family moved to Barclanachan in 1686, now the site of the current mansion house. Sir John Fergusson of Kilkerran acquired the lands through his marriage with Jean Whytefoord, whose father had purchased it from the Kennedys, and he joined the Barclanach and Kilkerran estates and rebuilt the house in 1695. Today it contains the family portraits of eight generations and many relics of former chiefs.Clan Fergusson's plant badge is poplar seedlings
Clan Motto: Dulcius Ex Asperis (Sweeter After Difficulties).
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