Scottish Clans
MacLeod Tartans & Clan
The Clan MacLeod is made up of two branches, the MacLeod of Harris and Skye (Siol Thormoid) and the MacLeods of Lewis (Sio Thorcuil), at one point there was the MacLeods of Raasay, they eventually split from the larger line to form their own successful clan and are currently represented by the Macleod Society. Where the MacLeod of Harris tartans are more subtle blue and green with red and yellow stripes, the MacLeod of Lewis is bold yellow and black with a red stripe.
Who Wears MacLeod 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.
- Allum
- Callum
- Callam
- MacCallum
- Challum
- Gillecallum
- MacGillechallum
- MacCabe
- McCabe
- MacCalman
- Malcolm
- MacAlman
- Beaton
- Bethune
- Beton
- Betha
- Bethea
- Harold
- Harrold
- MacHarold
- Harald
- Haraldson
- Herrald
- MacRalte
- MacRaild
- Lewis
- MacLewis
- MacAndie
- Andie
- MacKande
- Makcandy
- MacKandy
- MacHandie
- MacAskill
- MacCaskill
- MacAsgill
- MacKaskill
- McCaskill
- MacCaskie
- Caskie
- Kasky
- MaKasky
- Taskill
- Clann t-Asgaill
- MacAsgaill
- MacAulay
- Aulay
- Caulay
- MacAlley
- MacAllay
- MacCaulay
- MacCauley
- MacAuley
- Calley
- Coll
- MacCorley
- MacCabe
- MacCaig
- MacCuaig
- MacKaig
- MacCrivag
- MacCowig
- MacCoig
- MacQuigg
- MacDbubhaig
- MacCaskie
- Caskie
- Kasky
- MacKasky
- MacAskey
- Askie
- MacAskill
- MacClure
- McClure
- MacLure
- MacLur
- MacAlear
- MacLeur
- MacLewer
- MacClewer
- MacCorkill
- McCorkie
- MacKerkyll
- MacCorkle
- MacOrkill
- MacKorkyll
- McKurkull
- MacCorkindale
- MacCorquodale
- MacCorcadail
- MacThorcadail
- MacCrimmon
- MacRimmon
- Crimmon
- Grimmond
- Grimman
- Griman
- MacGrimman
- Cremmon
- MacCrummen
- MacGrymmen
- MacWilliam
- McCullie
- MacKullie
- MacKilliam
- MacWillie
- MacWylie
- MacWilliams
- Williamson
- Malcolmson
- Nicol
- Nichol
- Nichols
- Nicoll
- Nicholl
- Nicolson
- Nicholson
- McNychol
- MacNickle
- MacNichol
- Necolson
- Nicollsoun
- Nucolsone
- Nuckall
- Nuccol
- Nickle
- deNicole
- Norman
- Tormod
- Tormud
- Normand
- Norval
- Norwell
- Norrie
- Norie
- Norreys
- Norrey
- Nore
- Norn
- Norris
- Noray
- Norye
- Norad
- Tolmie
- Tolme
- Tolmach
Associated Regiments
Over the last 300 years, tartans have been a part of official dress for some of the most famous regiments throughout the military world! Their respective regimental tartans became undisputedly tied to the very core identity of the soldiers who wear it. Explore the associated regiments below:
- The Queen's Gurkha Engineers
Macleod Tartans
20 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
MacLeod Clan Origins & History
Explore the history of Clan MacLeod
How it all started
Territories
Clan MacLeod's lands are on the Isle of Skye
Clan Chief
The current chief is Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod
Where does the MacLeod name come from?
The name macleod comes from Mac which means "son of" and also Leod. Leod is an old Gaelic name that some believe to be derived from the old norse name Ljotr which itself meant ugly.
Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle is the historic and current seat of Clan MacLeod. The original castle was built during the 13th Century for Clan MacLeod, it is located on the Isle of Skye just outside the town of Dunvegan. The Castle has been modernised various times over the years, the most recent was during the 19th Century when it was completely re-modelled. At one point the castle stood alone on an island, but today it sits upon a rock on the coast.
The MacLeods
Throughout the centuries MacLeods have been known for their devotion to their chief, the tenacity with which they have maintained the ancient Dunvegan castle, their appreciation of music and Gaelic lore, their outstanding record in the professions, and their loyalty to one another.
An Interview with The Hebridean Baker
The TikTok world famous cookbook author, Coinneach MacLeod guides us through his passionate pursuit to bring authentic Scottish cuisine into homes across the globe in this special episode of Anna'nother thing about Tartan. Emily finds out about his sensational book now available and of course, which tartan is Coinneach's favourite.
Dame Flora MacLeod
A very famous female Clan Chief was Dame Flora MacLeod. Flora was Clan Chief of the MacLeod Clan from 1937 to her death in 1976. While chief she was a woman of great importance and she took what many considered a Scottish clan into international waters, she helped found the clans society in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and in the USA. She was well known for charity work and her kind heart.
Flora was brought up between both London and Edinburgh but eventually settled on the Isle of Skye at the family seat of Dunvegan Castle. She lived in the castle until 1973, then moved to Ythan Lodge in Aberdeenshire. She was named an inspiration and strong leader by many in and outside her clan.
Clan Motto: Hold Fast
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