Clan Primary Image Shaw

Scottish Clans

Shaw Tartans & Clan

The second chief of the clan was a chap called Shaw MacGhillechrist Mhic Iain,his nickname was sgorfhiachlach which sounds like somebody clearing their throat but actually means Bucktooth. Old Bucktooth led the Shaws to victory at the Battle of the North Inch, a staged trial by combat witnessed by King Robert III and the Dauphin of France.

Clan Motto Fide Et Fortitudine (By Fidelity and Fortitude)

Who Wears Shaw 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.

  • Adamson
  • Adamsone
  • Ademson
  • Ademsoun
  • Ademsoune
  • Aesone
  • Aison
  • Aissone
  • Aissoun
  • Aissoune
  • Asson
  • Assone
  • Aue
  • Ave
  • Ay
  • Aye
  • Ayesone
  • Ayson
  • Aysone
  • Aysoun
  • Ayssoun
  • Eason
  • Easone
  • Easson
  • Esson
  • Ison
  • Isone
  • MacAy
  • Saythe
  • Scaith
  • Scayth
  • Schau
  • Schaw
  • Schawe
  • Scheoch
  • Scheok
  • Schiach
  • Schioch
  • Schioche
  • Seah
  • Seath
  • Seith
  • Seth
  • Sha
  • Shau
  • Shawe
  • Shay
  • Sheach
  • Sheath
  • Sheehan
  • Sheoch
  • Shiach
  • Siache
  • Sith
  • Sithach
  • Sithech
  • Sithig
  • Skaith
  • Sythach
  • Sythag
  • Sythock
  • Tordarroch

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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 Shaw
Clan Origin History Image Shaw

Explore the history of Clan Shaw

How it all started

Territories

Clan Shaw's lands are in Strathspey with the historic seat being at the Doune of Rothiemurchus

Clan Chief

The current chief is John Shaw of Tordarroch

Clan Origin Location Shaw

Doune of Rothiemurchus

Doune of Rothiemurchus is the historic seat of Clan Shaw and it is located just outside of Aviemore. The Shaw family held the Doune for many years, however they were faced with many difficulties with the Gordon and Grant families trying to take the lands, they eventually lost their battle to keep their lands in 1570. They lost the fight as Alan Shaw was accused of murdering his step father and was forced to leave the country. The House still stands today and is open to the public to visit.

Clan Motto: Fide Et Fortitudine (By Fidelity and Fortitude)

From the start

Shaw Clan Origins & History

Where does the name Shaw come from?

From the Gaelic sitheach meaning wolf.

Plant Badge

Clan Shaw's Plant Badge is Red whortleberry


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