Clan Bruce have a strong link to the history of Scotland, being home to Robert the Bruce, the King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329, who famously claimed victory at the Battle of Bannockburn. Bruce consolidated his kingdom and the war with England was closed by the Treaty of Northampton in 1328. Bruce died at Cardross the following year.
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 Bruce family is descended from Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale, who came to England in 1106. As such, Annandale, along with Clackmannan, kincardine, and Elgin, are territories associated with Clan Bruce. Because the Bruce’s also produced a line of royal Scots, they are historically associated with several castles all throughout Scotland. As such, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Unst, South Ayrshire, and Perth and Kinross are also territories in which one can find some great Bruce history.
The current chief is Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine. Lord Elgin is the 37th in the line of chiefs of the name and family of Bruce. He and Lady Elgin reside at the family estate, Broomhall. In 1951, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, was Deputy Lieutenant of Fife from 1955 to 1987, and acted as Lord Lieutenant from 1987 to 1999. In addition, in 1980 he was appointed by her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II as Her Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and reappointed in 1981. Finally, in 1982 Queen Elizabeth II installed him as a Knight of the Thistle. This is one impressive chief!
The name Bruce actually has several origins. One comes from the French de Brus or de Bruis, which is in reference to the land known today as Brix in Normandy. Another origin is from the Flemish de Bruce, derived from the lands now called Bruges in Belgium.
King David II, son of King Robert the Bruce, inhabited this castle. He later granted his cousin, Sir Robert Bruce, the lands of Clackmannan Tower in 1359. Prior to this, it is thought that a royal residence existed on this original site during the reign of Malcom IV from 1053 to 1056. You can spot the Tower from miles around as it sits right on top of King's Seat Hill. Today, only the exterior of the Tower can be viewed, however no appointment is needed.
Robert The Bruce is arguably one of the most well-known and influential people in Scottish history, due to his presence he really put the Bruce Clan on the map. Today Anna dives deep into the history of this brave Clan, looking at their various tartans, ferocious battles and of course taking a closer look at who Robert The Bruce was and why he was so famous.
The Bruce plant badge is rosemary, which symbolizes the remembrance of the clan’s royal past and most famous hero, Robert the Bruce.
The Stone of Destiny is an important piece of Scottish history and integral to the story of Robert the Bruce’s reign. Although its exact origins are unknown, it was used for centuries in the inauguration of the kings of Scotland and is considered a sacred object. In 1296, King Edward I of England stole the stone from the Scots! It was then housed at Westminster and was used in the coronation ceremonies of the monarchs of England, rather than Scotland. As such, when Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots in 1306, he was the very first Scottish king to be crowned without the stone, though he was still crowned at Scone in Perthshire.
The Bruce clan crest features a standing lion with its tail extended, which evokes bravery, valour, strength, and royalty. Also featured on the crest is the motto, Fuimus, which translates to “We Have Been”. It’s typically thought that the motto is referencing the royal ancestry of the clan.
Family of Bruce International, Inc. represents the culmination of two previous Clan Bruce organizations—Bruce International (founded 1984) and Family of Bruce Society. The non-profit was founded in 2005 as a partnership between the two previously mentioned organizations with the mission to create and promote kinship amongst members of Clan Bruce, and to encourage historical interest in the clan. Interested in becoming a member? Click the link to learn about membership requirements.
Loch Trool is quite significant to the Bruce clan because of Robert the Bruce’s involvement in the Battle of Glen Trool. The battle took place in April of 1307 and was a great victory for King Robert! To commemorate the victory, Bruce's Stone stands on the north side of the loch and can be visited today.
The Bruce wary cry in Gaelic is Garg’n Uair Dhuisgear, which translates to “Fierce when Roused”. This is thought to be connected to the Chief's coat of arms, which features three silver wolf heads on a blood red shield supported by a serpent and a dove, which demonstrates the fierceness of the clan.
The Battle of Bannockburn is one of the most famous battles in all of Scottish history and certainly is one of the most revered for Clan Bruce. This is the battle that Robert the Bruce is most well known for, having led the Scots to victory during the First Scottish War of Independence. The battle took place on June 24th of 1314 and Bruce famously defeated English forces at Bannockburn, effectively staving off English attempts to control Scotland. While this battle did not end the Wars of Scottish Independence, it is considered the defining moment within the wars that ultimately resulted in Scotland’s independence for a period of time.
This is the Coats of Arms of Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine, the current Chief.
There are 4 variants available for the Bruce Clan, from Modern to Ancient, with gorgeous greens and orange tartans, this Clan is truly spoilt for choice. But which is your favourite Bruce Clan tartan? Vote Now!
Join Monja and Kalyn as they explore the exciting history of Clan Bruce. They dive into the many well known faces of the family, including the infamous Robert The Bruce, and of course telling the story of the Stone of Destiny. From clan origins to their tartans, seats and societies, we'll explore it all as part of our Clan of the Month celebrations.
How much do you think you know about Clan Bruce? Enough to get all 12 questions correct? Test your Bruce Clan knowledge now!
Every month we celebrate a different Scottish Clan and this month it's all about Clan Bruce. Join Monja as we explore Clan Bruce in a minute, learn how to spot a member of the clan and all about their history.
Adam Robert Bruce was born in Edinburgh and studied at both the University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh. He previously acted as a Solicitor and Director of Public Policy with McGrigors in Edinburgh to acting as the current global head of corporate affairs at Mainstream Renewable Power, he’s quite the impressive Bruce! Read more about the famous Bruce's.
Broomhall is of great significance in Scottish history, not just because of its connection to one of the most well known families in all of Scotland, but because of its architecture and its status as one of Scotland’s grandest houses. For over 300 years, it has been the private home of the Bruces and continues to be owned, operated, and beloved by the family of King Robert the Bruce.
Clan Motto: FUIMUS (We Have Been)