Scottish Clans
MacThomas Tartans & Clan
Thomas, a Gaelic speaking Highlander, known as Tomaidh Mor (Great Tommy), from where the clan takes its name, was a descendant of the Clan Chattan MacKintoshes, his grandfather having been a son of William, 8th Chief of the Clan Chattan. Thomas lived in the 15th century, at a time when the clan Chattan confederation had become large and unmanageable, so he took his kinsmen and followers across the Grampians, from Badenoch to Glenshee, where they settled and flourished, being known as McComie (phonetic form of the Gaelic MacThomaidh), McColm and McComas (from MacThom and MacThomas). To the government in Edinburgh, they were known as MacThomas and are so described in the Roll of the Clans in the Acts of the Scottish Parliament of 1587 and 1595, and MacThomas remains the official name of the Clan to this day, notwithstanding the fact that few of its members have ever actually been named MacThomas.
Who Wears MacThomas 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.
- McComas
- McComb
- MacCombie
- MacComie
- McHamish
- MacThomas
- Tamson
- Thom
- Thomas
- Thomason
- Thoms
- Thomson
Macthomas Tartans
2 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
MacThomas Clan Origins & History
Explore the history of Clan MacThomas
How it all started
Territories
Glenshee
Clan Chief
The current chief is Andrew MacThomas of Finegand. Edinburgh born, Finegand is also Vice-President of the Clan Chattan Association; a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; and a member of the Executive Committee of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
Since May 1970 Andrew has been the 19th Chief of Clan MacThomas, with the support of his Dutch-born wife Anneke and their two children. Having held the role of Public Affairs Director of Barclays Plc until he retired in 2005, he is now working hard to re-establish the Clan's historic links with Glenshee.
Where does the name MacThomas come from?
From the Gaelic MacThomaidh. Thomas, a Gaelic speaking Highlander, known as Tomaidh Mor (Great Tommy), from where the clan takes its name, was a descendant of the Clan Chattan MacKintoshes, his grandfather having been a son of William, 8th Chief of the Clan Chattan. Thomas lived in the 15th century, at a time when the clan Chattan confederation had become large and unmanageable, so he took his kinsmen and followers across the Grampians, from Badenoch to Glenshee, where they settled and flourished, being known as McComie (phonetic form of the Gaelic MacThomaidh), McColm and McComas (from MacThom and MacThomas). To the government in Edinburgh, they were known as MacThomas and are so described in the Roll of the Clans in the Acts of the Scottish Parliament of 1587 and 1595, and MacThomas remains the official name of the Clan to this day, notwithstanding the fact that few of its members have ever actually been named MacThomas.
Glen Shee
The MacThomas clan originates from Glen Shee after they settled their during the 15th Century. It is a glen on the east coast of Scotland in Perthshire. The Clan gatherings take place in Glenshee every three years.
William MacKintosh
The progenitor of the clan was a grandson of William MacKintosh known as Tomaidh Mor or Big Tommy. During Big Tommy's time, the MacThomases were a part of the Chattan Confederation, however, the confederation had grown too large and therefore unmanageable. Tommy led his men over the hills to Glen Shee, where the clan settled
Clan Motto: Deo Juvante Invidiam Superabo (God Help Overcome Envy)
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