The Strachan Clan Tartan

The four main public tartan registries  have the Strachan Clan tartan registered (typically xx2601).

The picture of the Strachan tartan shown here is in the darker Dress sett, and is currently the most popular.  The tartan is also available in the ancient sett, which are made of the natural, lighter hues.  

The tartan is presently a custom weave, and could take up to 3 months to obtain the yardage, plus another 3-4 weeks for the kiltmaker.  However, a few of the tartan mills are starting to carry the tartan  in stock.  Please, feel free to contact the Society if you wish to purchase some yardage. 

Today’s members of Clan Strachan would most appropriately wear the Strachan Family tartan as shown above.  It is the tartan associated with our surname, and is recognized as such by all tartan registries.  From a traditionalist perspective the tartan, for which I am happy to see, also reflects our close family ties to the Tribe of Mar. 

Mar District Tartan

The Strachan Clan can wear the Mar District Tartan, however many erroneously assert that this is because the lands of Strachan were located in the Mar District. 

Actually, the Strachan District is located in the Deeside District.

The truth is, Clan Strachan proudly wear the Mar District tartan as a Family of the Tribe of Mar (or Sept). 

In 1296, the barons ‘de Strachan’ opposed Robert the Bruce, and were defeated and disinherited.  However, in 1345, Adam Strachan married the niece of the Earl of Mar, who was himself a cousin of King Robert II and received the lands of Glenkindie. 

If you’ll note, the yellow and red lines shown in the Mar District Tartan are also in the Strachan tartan.  Also, half the Strachan tartan checks are green, which reflect the close family ties to the Tribe of Mar.

The Mar District Tartan would not necessarily be recommended for those members of the Strachan Clan just purchasing a Tartan, because the Strachan Family Tartan is “the” tartan directly associated with our surname. However, as a family of the Tribe of Mar, Strachans can legitimately wear this tartan.  And, in the event one cannot wait up to 3 months for a Strachan tartan, then the Mar District tartan would be perfectly acceptable. 

Traditionally where there is not an association to the surname, one would wear the tartan appropriate to the district from which the family originated.

District tartans are the oldest of the tartans, from which the clan tartans have probably developed.  The most accurate District tartan for the Strachan Family is the Deeside District.

Both the Strachans of Glenkindie and Thornton were located between the Rivers Dee and Don, the area known as the Deeside District.   As previously mentioned, the Strachan tartan has deep blue (modern die) or purple (ancient die) colors in the sett, which are very similar to that shown in the Deeside District tartan.

Like the Mar District Tartan, it would not be recommended for those of the Strachan Clan just purchasing a tartan for those same reasons previously stated.  However, since the District of Strachan is located in the Deeside District, Strachans can legitimately wear this tartan as well.