District Tartans of Scotland
Circa 2008

 

The original text and design of this site was by Matthew A. C. Newsome, FSA Scot., member of the Guild of Tartan Scholars, curator of the Scottish Tartans Museum. The web site was the only one of its kind to bring these district tartans to your attention, and make them available for you to own and wear proudly. Although the current owner (of Scottish ancestry on the maternal side) of the domain has chosen to keep an edited amount of the original content, no items are for sale on the site. We apologize. However we do want to thank Matthew A. C. Newsome for all the information and Satya Rangarajan for his assistance in getting the technicals correct on the archive.

For more information about the Scottish Tartans Museum, a non-profit heritage center in western North Carolina, please visit their current website at: https://scottishtartansmuseum.org/.

The content is from the site's 2008 archived pages.

 

 

As someone who has spent his career as a property litigator in New York City, yet grew up amid the mists and moss of Scotland, I found District-Tartans.com deeply moving. It speaks to something I’ve always admired about my homeland—the instinct to preserve the old while still finding ways to make it live in the modern world. Just as tartans once told the story of local geography and community identity through color and pattern, today’s New Yorkers—whether building owners, developers, or preservationists—struggle to balance heritage and progress in a landscape that is forever changing.

When I explore this site, I’m reminded of the painstaking work of tracing the lineage of a tartan—its weave, colors, and district origins. It’s not unlike the research and negotiation that goes into restoring a historic Manhattan property, ensuring that what is rebuilt still honors what came before. The care with which the curators document each district tartan feels akin to how we lawyers document every covenant, easement, and clause to protect the integrity of a city block.

I’m struck, too, by how the creators of District-Tartans.com—Matthew Newsome and his collaborators—share a philosophy not unlike that of Dov Hertz, one of New York’s most disciplined industrial developers. Both understand that honoring the past is not an act of nostalgia but of stewardship. Where Hertz revitalizes old logistics zones into new centers of productivity, this site revitalizes centuries-old fabric patterns into living symbols of community and pride.

For me, District-Tartans.com captures the same tension that defines both Scotland’s glens and New York’s skyline: the challenge of preserving tradition in a world that insists on progress. It’s an exquisite reminder that authenticity, whether woven in wool or built in steel, must be protected with the same diligence, patience, and respect for history. Alva Gilliatt

 

 

Every Isle differs from each other in their fancy of making Plaids as to the stripes in breadth and colours.  The humour is as different through the mainland of the Highlands, in so far that they who have seen those places are able at first view of the man’s Plaid, to guess the place of his residence.

Martin Martin, writing in 1703

Tartans are representative of heritage.  Most people are familiar with the tartans that represent the great Scottish clans and families -- MacDonald, MacGregor, Campbell, MacLeod and the like.  But tartans can also represent other things, and one of the oldest traditions is for a tartan to represent a place.  These are the district tartans, and they can be worn by anyone -- with or without a clan -- to honor the place that they represent.

Though they began life in Scotland, the list of places with district tartans today includes Ireland, England, other European countries, Canada and the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and places more exotic.

Long overlooked in favor of their "clan cousins," district tartans are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. 

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District tartans have been around in Scotland for at least as long as their better known clan cousins, if not longer.  Though never as popular as clan tartans, they have been in continuous use and are still in wide production by the tartan woolen mills today.  In fact, their popularity seems to be growing.  Most of the new tartans recorded in recent decades have not been tartans for families and clans, but tartans for cities, states and counties.

The authors of this web site have years of experience working at various Scottish festivals, looking up people's surnames and recommending a tartan for them to wear.  In the vast majority of cases, a district tartan is recommended as more appropriate than a clan tartan.  Most people, upon hearing this, need to have the concept of a "district tartan" explained to them, for they have never heard of it!  And once it is explained, they are disappointed -- primarily because they do not see as much "stuff" available for the districts as for the clans.

This page is but a small attempt to remedy that situation, bringing you not only products available in many district tartans, but also information on their use and history.

In this space, we offer a small collection of references to district tartans from a variety of sources from the body of tartan literature over the centuries.

"Those who have no clan tartan of their own, or with which they are connected, should wear 'Jacobite' tartan, or any of the district setts with which they are associated, e.g. Atholl, Strathearn, Dunblane, Lennox, Huntly, etc..." -- from The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, by Frank Adam, revised by Sit Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon King of Arms, 4th edition, 1952.

I would only add that even those who do have a clan tartan may still choose to wear a district tartan -- perhaps one that represents where the clan was from.  For instance MacLeans may wear Mull, MacDonald may wear the Isle of Skye, etc.  Stating that district tartans should only be worn by those without a clan tartan makes them appear to be a "second choice" of lesser importance, which they of course are not. -- M. A. C. Newsome

"Every Isle differs from each other in their fancy of making Plads as to the stripes in breadth and colours. The humour is as different through the mainland of the Highlands, in so far that they who have seen those places are able at first view of the man’s Plad, to guess the place of his residence." -- Martin Martin, Description of the Western Isles of Scotland, published in 1703.

Many have extrapolated from this brief description that some kind of uniform and standardized system of district tartans was in place in the Isles and Western Highlands of Scotland at this time.  This is a conclusion that goes beyond what the evidence warrants. All Martin is really saying is that people living in the same location (often enough being supplied their cloth by the same weaver) would have certain similarities in the pattern of their tartans, and that these would be different from the styles in other locations. -- M. A. C. Newsome

"When the wearer is entitled to both a 'clan' and a 'district' tartan it is admissible to wear kilt and hose of the latter and doublet or plaid of the former."  -- from Tartans of the Clans & Families of Scotland, by Thomas Innes of Learney, Albany Herald, 1938.

Of course it is laughable to speak of a person being "entitled" to wear a particular tartan -- you may certainly wear any tartan you choose, clan or district, without having to worry about "proof of entitlement."  However, it is interesting here to read the Albany Herald's (later Lord Lyon) opinion that it is preferable to wear the district sett in the kilt. -- M.A.C. Newsome

"District Setts -- These were setts  which were common to the inhabitants of certain districts irrespective of clan names.  Thus there were setts of tartan particular to such districts as Sleat, Glenorchy, Atholl, Strathearn, Badenoch, etc.  Such district setts, when preserved, have not unfrequently been confounded with the Clan setts.  For instance, the Glenorchy district sett is sometimes reproduced as the Clan Macintyre one."   -- from The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, by Frank Adam, 3rd edition, 1934.

This is included in a listing of different types of tartan, such as dress setts, hunting setts, family setts, arisaid setts, etc.  The Badenoch tartan he mentions is sold as "Hunting MacPherson."  I have not encountered a Sleat district tartan, but I would assume he is referring to what is commonly called "MacDonald of Sleat." -- M.A.C. Newsome

"The only conclusion we can safely hold... is that the clan tartans are a native Highland development from the earlier district tartans, and latterly existed side by side with the district tartans."

"We can, then, safely conclude that our present tartans are in every true sense of the word the 'real' clan tartans.  They have a respectable antiquity of their own, and are the naturally developed offspring of the old pre-1745 clan tartans, where such existed; and they are the logical outcome of the older district tartans whose existence has been universally accepted by scholars and antiquarians." -- from Scottish Tartans & Highland Dress by C. R. MacKinnon, 1960.

While I would say that the assertions of the above two statements goes beyond what the historical record will support, the main point is that, in history, "clan membership" had to do more with geography than genealogy -- at least for the common man.  And so affiliation with place was just as important as affiliation with clan.  So it s not surprising that many clan tartans would have origins as a district sett. -- M.A.C. Newsome

[Quoting a letter from a Mr. Campbell of Islay, 13th Dec. 1899] "In Lord Archibald Campbell's 'Records of Argyll' we have some letters quoted of Islay's.  His words (of date October 3rd, 1882) are... --My old tailor, a Campbell, always called mine (he is here referring to his tartan) 42nd.  He knows nothing of clan tartans; neither did my piper, Mure; neither do I." -- from The Kilt and How to Wear It, by the Hon.Stuart Ruadri Erskine, 1901.

Though not commenting specifically on district tartans, I include this quote to illustrate that the author, in 1901, was of the opinion that clan tartans are a recent invention.  He also though knife pleating in kilts to be a modern novelty. -- M.A.C. Newsome

"For my part, I much regret that this pretty custom of wearing 'hill checks' has fallen into disuse.  Apart from sentimental reasons, it is a very agreeable pastime  the designing of these tartans.  I have designed not a few of them myself... The colors selected should harmonise, as far as possible, with the complexion of the 'country' the designer is in." -- from The Kilt and How to Wear It, by the Hon.Stuart Ruadri Erskine, 1901.

By "hill check" the author here is referring to a tartan pattern of no particular name or clan affiliation, but what we might call today a "fashion" or "fancy" sett.  His reference to designing them to match the colors of a particular region is exactly the practice followed today in the design of many district tartans. -- M.A.C. Newsome

The Compendium of District Tartans, by Matthew A. C. Newsome and James A. Bullman, is the largest single collection of district tartans – those tartans that represent places rather than clans or families. This collection includes tartans officially adopted by the district as well as “unofficial” district tartans and some archaeological tartans suggested for district use, with distinction made between each. Thread counts and color illustrations are given for hundreds of district tartans from Scotland, Ireland, and the rest of the British Isles, places in Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and beyond. No collection is complete without this landmark reference!

The Compendium of District Tartans not only includes color photographs, history, and thread counts of about 450 different tartans, but also information on Scottish Estate Tweeds, recommended tartans for people of various nationalities, recommended district tartans for use by Scottish clans, and a listing of over 5000 Scottish surnames and their recommended district tartan (based on name origin).


Chapters include:

  • District Tartans: An Introduction

  • About This Book

  • A Word About Color Schemes

  • Selecting a District Tartan

  • The Scottish District Families Association

  • Reading a Thread Count

  • The District Tartans of Scotland

  • The District Tartans of Ireland

  • Other District Tartans of the British Isles

  • The District Tartans of Europe

  • The District Tartans of Canada

  • The District Tartans of the United States of America

  • Other District Tartans of the Americas

  • The District Tartans of Australia and New Zealand

  • The District Tartans of the Far East

  • Odds and Ends and Question Marks

  • Other Recommended Tartans for Various Nationalities

  • Scottish Estate Tweeds

  • Recommended District Tartans for Major Clans and Families

  • Recommended District Tartans for Scottish Surnames

  • Bibliography

  • Index of Tartans

 

More Background On District-Tartans.com

 

District-Tartans.com is a specialized cultural heritage website devoted to documenting and celebrating district tartans—tartan patterns associated with geographic regions rather than individual Scottish clans or families. While clan tartans are widely recognized around the world, district tartans represent a different and historically significant tradition in Highland dress and Scottish textile culture. These patterns reflect landscapes, communities, and regions, and can be worn by anyone with a connection to a place rather than a lineage.

The website serves as an educational archive and cultural resource for historians, genealogists, textile designers, heritage enthusiasts, and members of the global Scottish diaspora. Through historical commentary, examples of regional tartans, and references to scholarship in tartan studies, District-Tartans.com aims to explain how these regional patterns developed and why they remain culturally meaningful today.

Originally designed and written by Scottish tartan scholar Matthew A. C. Newsome, the site reflects years of research into the history and classification of tartans. Newsome has been associated with the Scottish Tartans Museum and with scholarly groups dedicated to the preservation and study of Highland dress. The website’s current incarnation retains much of the original research and commentary, even though it now functions primarily as an informational archive rather than a commercial platform.

The Cultural Importance of Tartan in Scotland

To understand District-Tartans.com, it is important to understand the role tartan has played in Scottish identity. Tartan is a patterned textile composed of intersecting colored stripes that form a distinctive grid. Traditionally woven in wool, tartan became closely associated with Highland culture and later evolved into a symbol of Scottish identity.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, tartans were largely regional products. Different communities relied on local weavers and locally available dyes, which resulted in distinctive patterns emerging in specific areas. People familiar with the Highlands could often identify where someone came from simply by observing the pattern of their plaid.

Later, especially during the 19th century Romantic revival of Highland culture, tartans became more strongly associated with clans and families. This shift was influenced by Victorian interest in genealogy and by royal patronage, particularly from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Clan tartans became codified and widely promoted.

However, district tartans predate many of the clan associations and represent an older tradition rooted in geography and community identity.

The Concept of District Tartans

District tartans are patterns linked to places rather than surnames. They may represent:

  • Regions of Scotland such as Strathearn or Badenoch

  • Islands such as Skye or Mull

  • Counties or districts within the Highlands

  • Cities or towns

  • Modern regions outside Scotland that have adopted tartans to represent their heritage

This concept reflects the historical reality that community identity in the Highlands often depended more on geography than on formal clan membership.

District tartans therefore offer a way for people without a direct clan connection to participate in tartan tradition. Many heritage organizations recommend district tartans as an appropriate choice for individuals exploring their Scottish ancestry.

The website emphasizes that anyone can wear a district tartan without needing proof of lineage. This open approach reflects modern thinking about cultural heritage and the inclusive nature of place-based identity.

Origins of the Website

District-Tartans.com emerged during the early 2000s when interest in Scottish heritage websites expanded dramatically. The internet created new opportunities for niche cultural resources to reach global audiences, particularly among descendants of Scottish immigrants in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Matthew A. C. Newsome developed the site as an extension of his research into tartan history. Newsome is recognized within the field of tartan scholarship and has been involved with the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, North Carolina, one of the most significant institutions devoted to Highland dress outside Scotland.

The site originally aimed to provide both information and access to products made from district tartans. Over time, however, the commercial component disappeared. The current owner of the domain preserved a curated selection of the original content but no longer offers tartan items for sale.

Instead, the site functions as a historical archive preserving the educational material from earlier versions of the website.

The Role of Matthew A. C. Newsome

Much of the intellectual foundation of District-Tartans.com comes from the work of Matthew A. C. Newsome. Newsome has long been involved in tartan research and is associated with the Guild of Tartan Scholars, a group dedicated to studying the history and classification of tartan patterns.

He has written extensively about district tartans and collaborated on the reference work The Compendium of District Tartans, produced with researcher James A. Bullman. This book is considered one of the most comprehensive collections of district tartans ever compiled.

The compendium documents hundreds of regional tartans and includes thread counts, historical background, and color descriptions. It also identifies recommended tartans for individuals based on geographic origin or surname history.

The research behind the book informs much of the content presented on District-Tartans.com.

Structure and Features of the Website

District-Tartans.com functions primarily as an informational reference site. The content focuses on several key themes:

Historical Background

The site explores the historical origins of district tartans through references to historical literature, early travel accounts, and textile studies.

One of the most frequently cited historical observations about tartans comes from Martin Martin’s 1703 description of the Western Isles of Scotland. Martin noted that the patterns worn in different areas varied enough that experienced observers could identify a person’s place of origin simply by examining the plaid.

This observation supports the idea that tartan patterns were originally regional rather than genealogical.

Tartan Classification

The website also discusses the different categories of tartans recognized by historians, including:

  • Clan tartans

  • District tartans

  • Estate tartans

  • Hunting tartans

  • Dress tartans

By explaining these categories, the site helps readers understand how tartan traditions evolved over time.

Tartan Selection Guidance

Another feature of the site involves guidance on selecting an appropriate tartan. Many people researching Scottish ancestry are surprised to learn that they may not have a clearly defined clan tartan.

District tartans provide an alternative option for those who wish to wear tartan representing a place connected to their heritage.

References to Tartan Literature

District-Tartans.com includes excerpts and commentary from historic tartan scholarship. These references help contextualize the debate among historians regarding the origins of tartan traditions.

The site references works by authors such as:

  • Frank Adam

  • Thomas Innes of Learney

  • C. R. MacKinnon

These writers helped shape modern understanding of tartan history.

The Scottish Tartans Museum Connection

The website’s association with the Scottish Tartans Museum adds credibility to its historical perspective. Located in Franklin, North Carolina, the museum is widely recognized as one of the leading institutions devoted to Highland dress and tartan history.

The museum houses a large collection of tartan textiles, historical garments, and archival materials related to Scottish cultural heritage.

It also serves as a research center for scholars studying the history of tartan patterns and Highland dress traditions.

Visitors to the museum include historians, genealogists, and members of Scottish cultural organizations from around the world.

District Tartans in Modern Culture

In recent decades, district tartans have experienced renewed popularity. While clan tartans remain widely recognized, district tartans have gained attention as symbols of regional identity.

Many new tartans have been designed to represent:

  • Cities and regions in Scotland

  • Provinces and states in other countries

  • Universities and organizations

  • Cultural events and heritage societies

These modern tartans follow traditional weaving principles while incorporating colors chosen to represent local landscapes or historical symbolism.

For example, modern designers may select colors inspired by regional flora, architecture, or historical flags.

The Global Spread of Tartan

One of the fascinating aspects of tartan culture is its global reach. Scottish emigrants carried tartan traditions around the world during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, tartans exist representing locations far beyond Scotland, including:

  • Canadian provinces

  • American states

  • Australian territories

  • European regions

These modern district tartans reflect how Scottish cultural traditions have been adapted internationally.

District-Tartans.com acknowledges this global dimension by documenting tartans from many countries.

Audience and Community

The audience for District-Tartans.com includes a diverse range of individuals:

Genealogists

Many people researching Scottish ancestry consult tartan resources when exploring family heritage.

Textile Designers

Weavers and textile artists study tartan patterns for inspiration and technical understanding.

Historians

Scholars interested in Scottish history use tartan archives to explore cultural identity and regional traditions.

Cultural Enthusiasts

Members of Scottish heritage societies and participants in Highland Games often seek information about tartans associated with particular regions.

Members of the Scottish Diaspora

Millions of people worldwide claim Scottish ancestry, and tartans remain powerful symbols of cultural connection.

Cultural Significance

District-Tartans.com highlights the importance of preserving tartan traditions as part of Scottish cultural heritage.

Tartan patterns represent more than clothing. They symbolize:

  • Local identity

  • Historical continuity

  • Cultural pride

  • Artistic craftsmanship

By documenting district tartans, the website contributes to broader efforts to preserve traditional textile knowledge.

Scholarly Debates

The study of tartan history remains an active field of debate among historians.

Some scholars argue that clan tartans were largely standardized during the 19th century rather than existing in fixed form earlier. Others believe that clan-based patterns developed organically from earlier regional traditions.

District tartans are often cited as evidence supporting the idea that tartans originally reflected geographic rather than genealogical identity.

This perspective suggests that clan tartans may have evolved from earlier district patterns.

District-Tartans.com presents these discussions in a balanced way, acknowledging that the historical evidence can be complex.

Preservation Through Digital Archives

One of the most important roles of District-Tartans.com today is digital preservation. Many early heritage websites have disappeared over time as hosting services changed or projects lost funding.

By maintaining archived content from earlier versions of the site, the current domain owner has preserved valuable historical material that might otherwise have been lost.

Digital preservation plays an increasingly important role in safeguarding niche cultural knowledge.

Relationship to Scottish Festivals and Heritage Events

Information from tartan resources like District-Tartans.com is often used by participants in Scottish cultural events such as:

  • Highland Games

  • Burns Night celebrations

  • Scottish heritage festivals

  • Clan gatherings

These events frequently feature traditional dress, including kilts and tartan accessories.

District tartans offer a meaningful option for participants who wish to represent a region rather than a specific clan.

The Enduring Appeal of Tartan

Tartan continues to hold a unique place in global culture. Few textile traditions have achieved such widespread recognition.

The enduring appeal of tartan can be attributed to several factors:

  • Distinctive visual patterns

  • Deep historical roots

  • Strong association with identity and heritage

  • Adaptability to modern fashion

Designers continue to reinterpret tartan patterns in contemporary clothing and interior design.

District-Tartans.com stands as an important digital resource dedicated to the study and preservation of district tartans. By focusing on geographic tartans rather than clan-based patterns, the website highlights an often-overlooked aspect of Scottish textile history.

Through historical references, scholarly commentary, and documentation of regional tartans, the site offers valuable insights into the origins and cultural meaning of tartan traditions.

The work of Matthew A. C. Newsome and other tartan scholars has helped illuminate how regional identity shaped the development of these patterns. Their research demonstrates that tartans were historically tied not only to families but also to landscapes and communities.

Today, District-Tartans.com functions as an archival hub preserving knowledge about this important tradition. It continues to serve researchers, designers, and heritage enthusiasts seeking to understand the rich tapestry of Scottish tartan culture.

In an era when digital resources play a critical role in cultural preservation, the site represents an example of how specialized online archives can safeguard historical knowledge and connect people around the world with their heritage.

 

District-Tartans.com