Scottish Clans
Rose Tartans & Clan
There are some who believe that the character of the Scarlet Pimpernel was based, in part at least, on a Scotsman named J. A. Rose who was born in 1757. As a young man, Rose moved to Paris where he would grow into a very distinguished person, rubbing shoulders with King Louis and Marie-Antoinette who he would try to save from Madame Guillotine.
Who Wears Rose 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.
- Baron
- Barron
- de Ros
- de Rose
- Geddas
- Geddeis
- Geddes
- Geddess
- Geddis
- Gedes
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:
- Punjabis, 27th. (Punjab)
- Royal Tank Regiment
Rose Tartans
3 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 Rose
How it all started
Territories
The Highlands. When the de Ros family first moved to Scotland in the 12th century, they settled in the area around the Moray Firth, establishing their family lands at Geddes, just south of Nairn. The area has remained the Rose heartland ever since.
Clan Chief
The current chief of Clan Rose is David Hugh Heriot Baird Rose, 26th Baron of Kilravock. He was recognised as clan chief by The Lord Lyon in June 2013. Born in England but raised in Australia, he worked as a farm manager, carpenter and builder before returning to Scotland in 1978. As well as running a dairy and cheese farm on the Kilravock Estate, he trained as a Master Craftsman in finer woodworking, and was also a part time Special Constable in the Highlands and Islands Constabulary. The 26th Baron succeeded his maternal aunt, Anna Elizabeth Emily Guillemard Rose, who was chief from until her death in December 2012 at the age of 88. He is the first chief since 1460 not to live at Kilravock Castle. Did you know of the 26 holders of the barony of Kilravock title, 18 of them have been called Hugh?
Clan Rose Plant Badge
The plant badge of Clan Rose is wild rosemary. It is thought that rosemary was introduce to Britain by the Romans, and it is surrounded by ritual, mythology and symbolism, as well as its practical use as a seasoning. In some parts of Scotland, there is a belief that where rosemary flourishes, the woman is the boss!
Kilravock Castle
Kilravock Castle is located in Croy just outside of Inverness and has been seat of Clan Rose since 1293 and is still the clan seat to this day. The Rose family originally descended from Norway, but eventually settled in the district of Nairn. The family accquired the lands of Kilravock Castle through a marriage to the Bisset family in 1293. The Rose family built Kilravock Castle in 1460 and then extended the building during the 17th Century. The Castle is now owned by the Kilravock Christian Trust.
When Robert Burns visited the Chief’s family at Kilravock Castle in 1787 during a tour of the highlands, he described them in his diary. He called the 19th Baroness “Old Mrs Rose,” stating that she had a “sterling sense, warm heart, strong passion and honest pride all in an uncommon degree,” with Burns stating her daughter was “a little milder than the mother. This perhaps owing to her being younger.”
What is featured on the Clan Rose Crest?
On a chapeau Gules fired Ermine, a harp Azure.
Do the Rose family have a Clan Society?
Clan Rose International is devoted to maintaining the spirit and passion of belonging to one of Scotland’s oldest clans. Members support the Clan sharing its history, heritage and values, as well as having the chance to gain insight and connection to other Rose/de Ros descendants all over the world.
The US-based Clan Rose Association has the mission of educating people about Scottish history and music, specific to Clan Rose.
What is the Clan Rose Coat of Arms?
Or, a boar's head coupled Gules, between three water bouts Sable.
The water bouts are said to represent the leather water containers used by knights crossing the desert during the Crusades. The boar's head is a reference to the arms of the Chisholm family, and was added to the Rose arms upon the marriage of Hugh Rose, fourth of Kilravock, to Janet Chisholm in the 1360s.
Do Clan Rose have their own Tartan?
At ScotlandShop you'll find three varieties of tartan associated with Clan Rose – Rose Hunting Ancient, Rose Hunting Modern, and Rose Red Modern.
According To the Scottish Register of Tartans, Rose Hunting was first recorded in 1831. The tartan has a link to The Royal Tank Regiment Pipes and Drums, who wear the Rose Modern Hunting tartan. The tartan was bestowed on the band by the late Baroness and Clan Chief Elizabeth Rose, who was a family friend of the Commanding Officer, in 1972. The Pipes and Drums consists of around 10 members, made up of pipers and drummers, and have competed in all the major pipe band championships, as well as tattoos including the Basel Tattoo and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Do you know Elizabeth Rose?
The clan has a legacy of strong female leaders – the first Elizabeth Rose fought to succeed her father as 19th Baroness in the 18th century, whilst the second Elizabeth Rose led the clan as chief for over 50 years until her death in 2012. Interestingly, in some parts of Scotland there is a belief that rosemary – the clan plant badge – grows in areas where the woman is the boss. The saying goes “The mistress is the master, where Rosemary grows the woman rules the house.” Discover more about the other Rose Famous Faces on the blog
Clan Rose
Tartan Poll
There are 3 variants available for the Rose Clan, featuring gorgeous reds and greens, this Clan has a selection of three beautiful tartans. But which is your favourite Rose Clan tartan? Vote Now!
The Castles of Clan Rose
For the Rose Clan, Cawdor Castle is “the one that got away”! Hugh, later the tenth of Kilravock, was due to marry Murial Calder who was the daughter of the Chief of Clan Calder. Clan Calder's seat was at the beautiful Cawdor Castle, this castle would have eventually been Hugh's castle through marriage. Just before the couple were to wed Murial was carried off by the Campbell clan and married a son of Argyll. Since this marriage the grand Cawdor Castle remained in the hands of the Campbells of Cawdor. Discover more in our blog.
Top 5 Facts
Learn where the family name originates and the famous seat of the Rose family is, there is rich history imbedded in the Rose Family's story. Discover the Rose Clans top 5 facts, how many di you know?
Clan Rose
Quiz
How much do you think you know about Clan Rose? Enough to get all 12 questions correct? Test your Rose Clan Knowledge now!
The Story of Clan Rose
Clan Rose is one of the few in Scotland where the chiefship has descended in an unbroken line all the way to the present day, and can be followed all the way back to Hugh, 1st of Kilravock, in 1250.
The clan also have a reputation for being peaceful – which, if you’re familiar you’re your medieval Scottish history, you will know is very rare! However that is not to say that they weren’t involved in any disagreements. Find out more about this interesting clan with our video.
Clan Motto: Constant and True
From the start
Rose Clan Origins & History
Where does the name Rose come from?
The line of Clan Rose originates with the Norman family de Ros, who acquired lands in various parts of Scotland in the 12th century, with their name becoming “Rose” by the end of the 1200s. The de Ros family took their name from Ros (now Rots) near Caen, which was a fief belonging to Odo, the brother of William the Conqueror. Odo is best known as the Bishop of Bayeux, who commissioned the famous tapestry that depicts his brother’s victory at the Battle of Hastings. Despite their similar sounding names, the origins of Clan Rose are distinct from that of the ancient Celtic family of Clan Ross.
What happened to Elgin Cathedral?
In 1390 the Rose family records and charters were destroyed when Elgin Cathedral, where they were kept, was burned to the ground by the notorious Wolf of Badenoch. All documents relating to the family’s history were lost. However, from this time onwards, the records of the Roses are amongst the most complete in Scottish family history.
Are the Rose family and Ross family connected?
Despite the similarities in their name, Clan Rose is distinct from Clan Ross. Whilst the origins of Clan Ross are located firmly in the Highlands, the first members of Clan Rose were members of the Norman de Ros family.
Who was the first Chief of Clan Rose?
Clan Rose is one of the few in Scotland where the chiefship has descended in an unbroken line all the way to the present day, and can be followed all the way back to Hugh, 1st of Kilravock, in 1250. This is a legacy that is unique amongst the Scottish Clans.
Clan Rose Battles
It has been said that “the Rose family had relatively few enemies and were not prone to conflict to the same extent as other clans.” But this is medieval Scotland we are talking about – we can still find the Clan Rose getting involved in the occasional skirmish with their neighbours. One such skirmish saw the tower of Kilravock Castle seized by the Mackintoshes in 1482. In 1645, the thirteenth Baron of Kilravock led Clan Rose forces at the Battle of Auldearn. Taking the side of the Parliamentarians, they suffered defeat at the hand of the Royalists.
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