The McLeod Family History
History of the MacLeod Family Tartan.
The tartans displayed below show the distinctive tartan patterns associated with the MacLeod Clan. Many tartans were originally local or regional patterns colored by locally available dyes and yarns only later becoming associated with specific families. The tartans presented here are officially registered as being associated with the MacLeod Clan.
MacLeod's Highlanders Regimental Tartan
The source of tartan 581 was: Wilson's of Bannockburn 1800
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Clan MacLeod Society of Scotland Centenary Clan Tartan
This was designed to commemorate the centenary of the Clan MacLeod.
The source of tartan 2375 was: Rosemary Flemming and Derek McLeod
MacLeod Clan Tartan
The source of tartan 1278 was: Messrs Scott Adie of London
MacLeod (dress) Clan Tartan
See illustration in Bain where red is 4 threads. Sir Thomas Dick Lauder in a letter to Sir Walter Scott in 1829 wrote, MacLeod has got a sketch of this splendid tartan, "three black stryps upon ain yellow fylde".
The source of tartan 1272 was: Vestiarium Scoticum 1842
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MacLeod Red Clan Tartan
Designed after the tartan worn by Norman MacLeod, 22nd Chief of the clan, painted by Allan Ramsay in 1747, with the costume painted by Van Haecken (see details in entry for MacLeod 'Portrait'.) A yellow stripe was added by Ruairidh MacLeod to enhance the family resemblance to other MacLeod tartans, and to differentiate this from Murray of Tullibardine, the name now attached to the sett in the portrait. Approved by the Clan MacLeod Parliament in 1982.
The source of tartan 496 was: Dgn. Ruairidh MacLeod MSTS
MacLeod Clan Tartan
This design appears in many early collections including Logans 'The Scottish Gael'(1831) and Smibert (1850). The sett has its source in the MacKenzie tartan used in 1777 by John MacKenzie called Lord MacLeod when he raised a regiment called 'Lord MacLeod's Highlanders'. The family claimed to be heirs of the last chief of Lewis, Roderick, who had died in 1595. (Tartans of Clan MacLeod. Rhuairidh MacLeod (1990).) This tartan was approved by the Chief Norman Magnus, 26th Chief, in 1910, and has been since the usual mode.
The source of tartan 1583 was: Logan
MacLeod Portrait Tartan
MacLeod, who was MP for Inverness and voted against the Disarming Act of 1746, chose to be painted by Ramsay in tartan although the act made its wearing illegal. Ramsay painted the composition, face and hands, and the costume was added by Van Haecken from an 11 yard bolt of fabric ordered by MacLeod from Skye in 1747. The same fabric was also used by Van Haecken for portraits by Ramsay of John Campbell 4th Earl of Loudoun and of Sir Francis Charteris with his sister.
The source of tartan 1173 was: Dunvegan Castle
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All information on tartans was taken from the website http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bwickham/tartan.htm and is intended for educational purposes only.