Scottish Clans
Learned Kindred of Currie Tartans & Clan
The Currie Clan, better known as the MacMhuirich Bardic Family, were Hereditary Bards to the Lords of the Isles as well as to the MacDonalds of Clanranald.
Who Wears Learned Kindred of Currie 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.
- Currey
- Currie
- Currier
- Curry
- MacCurrie
- MacCurry
- MacMhuirrich
Learned Kindred Of Currie Tartans
1 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
Learned Kindred of Currie Clan Origins & History
Explore the history of LEARNED KINDRED OF CURRIE
How it all started
Territories
The name Currie was first recorded in this form in 1230 and derives from the Gaelic "curraigh" which means wet plain or marsh. “Currie” is the anglicized form of MacMhuirich (pronounced “MacVurich”), and the MacMhuirich's were very highly regarded in Scotland’s history, named not only as bards, but as "filidh" (bards of the most senior rank involving years of training), and also as historians, genealogists and storytellers.
Through their link to the MacDonald Lord of the Isles the MacMhuirich's are linked to Finlaggan on the Island of Islay, and then through the MacDonalds of Clanranald to South Uist after 1493. MacMhuirichs and later Curries settled not just in South Uist but across the western seaboard – Campbelltown and the islands of Arran, Colonsay, Jura and possibly Iona. If you are traveling around Scotland you can find monuments in tribute to the MacMhuirichs on South Uist, Arran and Edinburgh.
Clan Chief
Currie is not yet recognised as a Clan by the Lord Lyon, and therefore they have a Commander rather than a Clan Chief. The Clan Commander of the Name and Arms of Currie is Robert 'Bob' Currie. The first Currie Society was formed in Glasgow in 1959 by William McMurdo Currie and shortly before he died in the late 1980s he passed the baton to Bob to continue his good work as custodian of the kindred.
Exciting Update: In November 2026, a new Clan Chief will be elected, the first in over 800 years! The Currie Family Convention is taking place on Saturday 14th November at Glasgow City Chambers, Glasgow, Scotland at 1pm.
Members of the worldwide Currie/Curry/Currey family (anciently MacMhuirich, “MacVurich”) are invited to attend this historic moment, and the Learned Kindred of Currie are encouraging candidates to come forward wishing to be considered for recognition as Chief of the Name and Arms of Currie.
Find out more on the Learned Kindred of Currie's website here. If you need your Currie tartan for the event, please get in touch and we'd be happy to help!
Where does the name Currie come from?
The name ‘Currie’ is the anglicized version of ‘MacMhuirich,’ pronounced ‘MacVurich.’ In the 18th century, the feudal system in Scotland and Ireland that upheld the Gaelic bards effectively came to an end, and many old Highland names were replaced by English names. ‘MacMhuirich’ began to appear more commonly in forms such as ‘MacMureach' and ‘MacVurich.'
In Uist, Colonsay, and Arran, many of the MacMhuirich Kindred changed their names to MacPherson, MacMillan, and even Murray.
Eventually, the majority of MacMhuirichs took on the name Currie among other variations, such as Curry, Currier, and MacCurry.
Learned Kindred of Currie - Clan Currie Society
In 1959, William McMurdo Currie first formed a Currie family society in Glasgow, Scotland. The society quickly began to thrive and attract members. Prior to his death, he appointed Robert Currie, an American family historian, to carry the society forward. In 1992, the Clan Currie Society was incorporated in the United States as a family name society, and it remains the official organization leading the global family of the Learned Kindred of Currie today. In 2006, the Lord Lyon King of Arms granted Corporate Arms to the society, recognizing the role they play in promoting Scottish history and Clan Currie's heritage on the global stage.
Whether you are interested in researching your Scottish ancestry, passionate about Celtic culture, or preserving Highland heritage, the Kindred welcome you to join the Clan Currie Society. You can get involved by volunteering at events throughout the year, such as Highland Games and the annual Pipes of Christmas concerts, connecting with peers on the society’s Facebook page, or supporting the mission by donating.
A key role that donations play is funding numerous scholarships annually to young people in the US, Canada, and Scotland, helping them to keep Celtic culture flourishing through the study of Gaelic language, music, and fine arts.
Do the Learned Kindred of Currie have a Motto?
In 1411, the Lord of the Isles sought to solidify his claim to the lands of the Earldom of Ross over Clan Stewart in the infamous battle of Harlaw. Lachlann Mor MacMhuirrich composed an epic war poem as an incitement to battle. It included the stirring line, ‘inspire to victory,’ which has been the Learned Kindred of Currie’s motto ever since.
Are the Learned Kindred of Currie connected to a Loch?
Set among the rugged landscape of the Isle of Arran is Loch na Davie, a remote freshwater loch which provides the water source for the Lochranza Distillery, founded in 1995 by Harold Currie.
Currie consulted research from the University of Glasgow’s geology department and the laboratories of Tatlock and Thomson to locate the purest water possible for his whisky, and decided his distillery couldn’t be based anywhere other than in the foothills of Loch na Davie.
The loch is about 1,117 feet above sea level and surrounded by acres of nature. Perched under the wide rural skies, it catches fresh rainwater as it falls, and from there, the water cascades down Easan Biorach Burn through 6 granite waterfalls.
As it washes over the granite and flows through the hills, it purifies and filters until it reaches Lochranza distillery, free from pollutants and enriched by Arran’s stunning environment.
The Distillery Manager, Stewart Bowman, sings the loch’s praises:
‘The waters of Loch na Davie are the true hero of our production process. Not only are they perfect for our light and fruity style of whisky, but the low mineral content also works perfectly for our productions, ensuring a clean and smooth process from Loch to bottle.'
Image credit: © Brian Robertson (cc-by-sa/2.0) Loch na Davie, taken Monday, 28 May, 2012
The Blind Harper
While the Curries were proud to use their talents as bards serving powerful families, they also held strong morals, and were not afraid to criticize those who they worked for.
In the 17th century, Ruairidh MacMhuirich, known as ‘an Clàrsair Dall’ or the Blind Harper, was bard to Chief John MacLeod. This seemed to be a productive and harmonious working relationship, however, MacMhuirich’s relationship with Chief John’s successor was much less amicable.
Roderick MacLeod was known as an absentee landlord who often neglected his role as chief. MacMhuirich composed a poem rebuking him for not performing his duties to his subjects, and failing to uphold traditional Gaelic culture.
Muiredach O'Daly
The progenitor of the great Bardic dynasty of MacMhuirichs was Muiredach O’Daly, a renowned Gaelic poet. Muiredach started his Bardic service in Ireland, having spent many years studying his craft. The story of how he made his way to Scotland is the subject of one of his famous works.
According to the 17th century Annals of Four Masters, Muiredach was forced to flee Ireland after a dispute with the Steward to the Chief of Clan O’Donnell, during which he split the unfortunate man’s head in half. The story goes that the Steward’s only crime was asking Muiredach to pay his rent. The poet wrote the following verse about the incident, seemingly bemused that the ‘trifling’ incident caused such strife.
Trifling was our quarrel with the man,
A clown to be abusing me,
And me to kill the churl,
Dear God, is this the cause for enmity?
The Red Book of Clanranald
The Red Book of Clanranald, one of Gaelic Scotland’s most beloved literary treasures, was written by successive generations of the MacMhuirich bards on South Uist. The book documents the history of the mighty Clan Donald.
Pipes of Christmas
A concert hosted by the Learned Kindred of Currie, Pipes of Christmas brings together performers, soloists and musicians from America and the UK to celebrate Christmas and the Celtic spirit.
Pipes of Christmas showcases those musicians and performers who specialise in the Gaelic tradition, with the program featuring traditional music, stories and poems told and sung in English, Gaelic and Old Scots.
Not only do the Learned Kindred of Currie put on these wonderful concerts, Pipes of Christmas are their annual fundraiser to support the society with providing scholarships, hosting Tartan Day on Ellis Island, commissioning new cultural and musical works and so much more!
Pipes of Christmas Interview with Bob Currie
To celebrate and share more about Pipes of Christmas we thought it would be fun to feature Bob Currie of Learned Kindred of Currie to give us more details and background about this amazing event. Read the blog and interview to discover more, how you can get involved and which famous faces have turned up in the past!
Do the Learned Kindred of Currie have a Tartan?
The Currie of Balilone tartan is the official tartan of the Clan Currie Society, it was supposedly created in 1822 for King George IV’s visit to Edinburgh, when all clan chiefs and families were encouraged to appear in their family tartans.
There are no strict rules about which tartans Curries may wear. When countless Highland Gaelic names were anglicized during the 18th century, the MacMhuirichs took on numerous other names, such as MacPherson, MacMillan, and Murray, so many now choose to wear tartans related to those families.
Do the Learned Kindred of Currie have a Plant Badge?
There is no specific plant badge recorded for the Learned Kindred of Currie, however, as the MacMhuirichs served as hereditary bards to the MacDonalds of Clanranald for over 800 years, family members often used the MacDonald plant badge, purple heather. As heather survives and thrives on the harsh Highland moors, it traditionally represents strength and resilience, perfect for the powerful Learned Kindred of Currie!
TOP 5 FACTS
Learned Kindred of Currie
Learn about their name, bardic tradition, motto, and more.
Learned Kindred of Currie’s Search For A Chief
The Learned Kindred of Currie have a Commander rather than a Clan Chief, however in November 2026 the clan will start the process of electing their first Clan Chief in over 800 years!
Clan Motto: Inspire to Victory
