Scottish Clans
Buchanan Tartans & Clan
Clan Buchanan claim that their roots trace back to Anselan O'Kyan, a member of the Ó Catháin clan and the King of North Ulster, who came to Argyll in 1016. However, their story doesn't match with other historical accounts of this time in Ireland so is know as an origin myth.
Who Wears Buchanan 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.
- Bohannon
- Bucanan
- Buchanon
- Buchannan
- Coleman
- Colman
- Cormack
- Cousland
- Dewar
- Donleavy
- Donlevy
- Dove
- Dow
- Gibb
- Gibbon
- Gibbs
- Gibby
- Gibson
- Gilbert
- Gilbertson
- Harper
- Harperson
- Leavy
- Lennie
- Lenny
- Macaldonich
- Macalman
- Macandeior
- Macaslan
- Macaslin
- Macauselan
- Macauslan
- Macausland
- Macauslane
- Maccalman
- Maccalmont
- Maccammond
- Maccasland
- Macchruiter
- MacColma
- MacColman
- MacColwan
- MacCommon
- MacCormac
- MacCoubrey
- MacCubbie
- MacCubbin
- MacCubing
- MacDonleavy
- MacGeorge
- MacGibhon
- MacGilbert
- MacGreusich
- MacGubbin
- MacInally
- MacIndeor
- MacIndoe
- MacKibb
- MacKibbin
- MacKinlay
- MacKinley
- Mcmaster
- Macmaster
- Macmasters
- MacMaurice
- MacMorris
- MacMurchie
- MacMurphy
- MacNuir
- MacNuyer
- MacQuat
- MacQuatters
- MacQuattie
- MacQuattiey
- MacQuinten
- Macuasland
- MacWattie
- MacWhirter
- MacWhorter
- Masters
- Masterson
- MacWhitty
- Morrice
- Morris
- Murchie
- Murchison
- Richardson
- Risk
- Rush
- Rusk
- Ruskie
- Ruskin
- Spittal
- Spittel
- Spittle
- Walter
- Walters
- Wason
- Wasson
- Waters
- Watson
- Watt
- Watters
- Weir
- Yool
- Yuille
- Yule
- Zuill
- McCubbin
Buchanan Tartans
18 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.
Explore the history of Clan Buchanan
How it all started
Territories
The Loch Lomond area of Stirlingshire.
Clan Chief
The current chief is John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan of that Ilk and of Arnprior.
Buchanan Auld House
Found near the village of Drymen in Stirlingshire the current Buchanan Auld (Old) House is the ruins of an 18th century house, orginally the historic seat of of the Clan Buchanan, also known as Buchanan Place or the Place of Buchanan.
Monja's Minute on Clan Buchanan
Get ready to learn everything you need to know about Clan Buchanan in 60 seconds (maybe a little bit more, there's so much to learn about this fascinating clan!).
James Buchanan
One of the most well known associates of the clan, James Buchanan served as the 15th President of the United States from 1857-1861. He served immediately prior to the American Civil War and remains the only President to be elected from Pennsylvania and to remain a lifelong bachelor! Prior to his reign, service abroad helped to bring him the Democratic nomination in 1856 because it had exempted him from involvement in bitter domestic controversies.
Discover Clan Buchanan
Clan Buchanan are most commonly known in Scottish history for being one of the only clans to take their name from the land on which they settled, rather than from a personal ancestor, like most other clans. However, there is so much more to this Clan than origins of their name, which is why in this episode of On The Sofa, Anna and Monja delve deep into the Clan's history. They discuss every part of their insignia and also share a few interesting Clan Member stories.
Clan Motto: Clarior hinc honos (Henceforth forward the honour shall grow ever brighter).
Clan Buchanan
Tartan Poll
There are 11 tartan variants available for the Buchanan Clan, from Modern and Ancient to Weathered and Dress, with gorgeous red, yellow and blue tartans, this Clan is truly spoilt for choice. But which is your favourite Buchanan Clan Tartan? Vote now!
Clan Buchanan
Quiz
How much do you think you know about Clan Buchanan? Enough to get all 12 questions correct? Test your Buchanan Clan Knowledge now!
An Inside Look into Clan Buchanan Society International with George McAusland
Clan Buchanan Society Internation (CBSI) is arguably the largest Clan Buchanan organisation, with members in countries all over the world and today we are joined by Regional Director of CBSI, George McAusland, to tell us all about the society. George even tells us about when Clan Buchanan were invited to attend the Royal Military Tattoo, a very exciting event for the society!
Interior Inspiration with James Hughes
On this episode of Anna'nother thing about tartan we welcome James Hughes who joins from Glasgow, virtually of course, to tell us his story. By day James is a Hair Dresser, but alongside his partner Kenny and their trusty dog Ollie, James runs one of Scotland's best loved Instagram home interior accounts - The Buchanan Interior. Despite not being a Buchanan himself we just had to chat to him about all things Tartan interiors.
Interviewing Chef Buchanan
We welcome David Buchanan, better known as the Kilted Chef or Chef Buchanan. David is originally from Edinburgh, but has travelled the world extensively during his 20 year career as a chef, working in various areas of the industry, from private catering to even founding his own social enterprise project. We are really looking forward to hearing David's tartan culinary story.
From the start
Buchanan Clan Origins & History
Where does the name Buchanan come from?
The name Buchanan is said to derive from MacAuselan, meaning Son of Anselan.
Plant Badge
Clan Buchanan's Plant Badge is Bilberry
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