Scottish Clans
Macpherson Tartans & Clan
Who Wears Macpherson 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.
- Archibald
- Cattanach
- Clark
- Clarke
- Clarkson
- Clerk
- Clunie
- Cluny
- Currie
- Ellis
- Ellison
- Ferssn
- Gillespie
- Gillie
- Gillies
- Goudie
- Gow
- Gowan
- Gowans
- Leary
- Lees
- MacChlery
- MacClair
- MacCleary
- MacCleish
- MacCurrach
- MacCurrie
- MacGillies
- MacGoun
- MacGow
- MacGowan
- MacKeith
- MacLear
- MacLeary
- MacLees
- MacLeish
- MacLerie
- MacLise
- MacLish
- MacMurdo
- MacMurdoch
- MacMurdoch
- MacMurrich
- MacVurich
- MacVurrich
- Murdoch
- Murdoson
- Pearson
- Smith
MacphersonTartans
13 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
Macpherson Clan Origins & History
Explore the history
How it all started
Territories
Badenoch
Clan Chief
The current chief is James Brodie Macpherson of Cluny, who succeeded his late father, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, in February 2021.
What's in the name?
The Gaelic for Macpherson is Mac a' Phearsain which means son of the parson.
Cluny Castle
Cluny Castle is the historic seat of the Macpherson clan via Andrew Macpherson, the first Macpherson of Cluny. Members of Clan Macpherson likely existed in the area surrounding the present day building since the 14th century, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that Cluny Castle is thought to have come under the ownership of the clan. After the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, the older version of the castle burned down, but Duncan Macpherson, having regained the land, built a new Cluny Castle on the grounds. It is the early 19th century mansion that stands today. The Macpherson’s held the castle until 1943 and, today, it is privately owned.
Sir William
The direct line of the Macphersons of Cluny died out in 1943 and Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD is the Clan Chief today. Sir William's CV carries an impressive education and military record followed by appointment as a Judge of the High Court of England and Wales in the Queen’s Bench Division. Now retired he lives with this family at Newton Castle in Blairgowrie, Perthshire. The Castle has been the home of the Macphersons since 1787 so not long!
Clan Motto: Touch Not The Cat But A Glove
