Clan Primary Image Arbuthnot

Scottish Clans

Arbuthnot Tartans & Clan

The Chief of the Arbuthnott family has lived in the village of Arbuthnott in Kincardineshire since ca.1195
Clan Motto Laus Deo (Praise be to God)

Who Wears Arbuthnot 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.

  • Arbuthnott
  • Aberbuthenot
  • Buthenot
  • Aberbothenoth
  • Buthenoth

Shop Arbuthnot Tartans & Clan From Curtains to Clothing, use the filters below to navigate through everything we offer in Arbuthnot Tartans

Arbuthnot Tartans

1 variations

Each 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.

Clan Origin Primary Image Arbuthnott 190829 155521

From the start

Arbuthnot Clan Origins & History

Clan Origin History Image Arbuthnott

Explore the history of Clan Arbuthnot

How it all started

Territories

Arbuthnott in Kincardineshire

Clan Chief

The current chief is Keith Arbuthnott, 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott

Where does the name Arbuthnot come from?

The name Arbuthnot(t) comes from the celtic Aberbuthenot or Aberbothenoth meaning 'the place where the burn called Buthenot(h) joins the (Bervie) waters'.

Clan Origin Location Image Arbuthnott

Home of the Arbuthnott family for over 800 years

More than 35 generations of Arbuthnott's have inhabited Arbuthnott House and there is a charter dating back to 16th May 1542 granting the lands and barony of Arbuthnott to Robert Arbuthnott and his heirs. The House and gardens are open today for tours by appointment if you wish to visit and explore the history. The archives at Aberdeen University also hold early family correspondence which can be viewed by appointment, including a summons from James, Earl of Arran and Governor of Scotland to rally against the English army.

The Chief of the Arbuthnott family has lived in the village of Arbuthnott in Kincardineshire since c.1195. You can visit the Arbuthnott House & Garden by appointment.

Clan Motto: Laus Deo (Praise be to God)


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