52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 13-A Family Pattern
Prompt: There are so many ways this theme could go! Naming patterns, behavior, migration, following an occupation for several generations, even sewing!
Before I ever embarked on genealogy research, I knew that I was of Scottish heritage and wanted to know what plaid pattern, or “tartan,” belonged to my family.
My parents had told me of my Scots background, but I also had a living relative from the “old country”: my great grand-aunt Elizabeth “Toosie” Williamson (1885-1969). She had come to this country in 1887, at the age of three, with my great great-grandparents and her four older siblings. She often went back to Scotland, bringing back gifts for the family.
I don’t remember that much about Toosie, unfortunately. I was only six years old when she passed away. But, thanks to my father, I have cherished photos of her, including the one at the top of this post. In it, I am wearing the kilt, sporran, jacket, and tam that she brought back for me from one of her trips back to Scotland.
“Before I ever embarked on genealogy research, I knew that I was of Scottish heritage and wanted to know what plaid pattern, or ‘tartan,’ belonged to my family.”
Once I was older and found out more about Scottish culture and customs, I wanted to find out if the kilt I wore in this photo was made from the tartan of my great great-grandfather’s name or clan.
I soon found out that this is the very popular “Royal Stewart” tartan. I looked for a “Williamson” tartan but did not find a listing for that family name.
For this assignment, I returned to the question of a Williamson tartan. I found that a new, i.e., not original, tartan for the Williamson family name had been designed in the 1970s by Harry Lindley and is similar to the MacWilliam tartan.
But then, I found another Williamson tartan! This one was designed by Lee William Williamson and was officially registered on October 11, 2022. I find the registration notes interesting:
The tartan was created for the Williamson family. The design is intended to represent the family’s history and connection to Scotland: black and dark grey are for the Strathclyde Coal mining industry where family members were employed; green is for the agriculture; purple represents the thistle and patriotism and blue is for the rivers Clyde and Ayr.
This pattern would definitely be appropriate for my family because so many members of my Williamson family were miners. And I love the color combinations. It reminds me a little bit of my favorite: the “Black Watch” tartan.
I also found out potential reasons why a tartan for the Williamson family name had not been originally registered. According to numerous sources, the assignment of specific patterns and colors of plaid fabric to specific clans or families was a tradition held mostly in the Highlands of Scotland. My great great-grandfather David Wilson Williamson (1846-1908) was born and lived in the Glasgow area—in Lanarkahire. The family of my great great-grandmother, Ann Scott Young (1851-1934), traces back to nearby Perthshire. Both regions are located well south of the Highlands.
Of course previous generations of my family could have lived in the Highlands, but even so, sources indicate that a Scottish family might not have an official tartan for a variety of additional reasons:
- Not all families were part of a clan system. This was more of a Highland structure.
- A family might be a “sept” (smaller family) within a larger clan.
- A clan might have a recorded history but lack a current Chief to approve or register a new tartan, classifying them as armigerous clans.
- Surnames often changed over time, meaning a family’s original tartan might be filed under a different spelling or a completely different, larger clan name.
- Many earlier tartans were defined by area rather than family line.
Additionally, historically, Highlanders wore whatever tartan was available or popular in their region, not a single, defining clan pattern. The “clan tartan” tradition largely developed in the 1820s and 1830s, rather than it coming from ancient tradition. Beginning in the Victorian era, Highland dress became romanticized as the truest expression of “Scottish-ness.”
I guess it’s kind of like, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.” Some of us may like to think we belong to an ancient clan with a plaid pattern we can claim as our own. But, with all due respect to the official registers, it would appear that anyone can wear whatever tartan he or she happens to like.
And what you wear underneath your kilt is your own business, too! Dae as ye like!
ADDENDUM: Interest in what happened to the ensemble I was wearing in the photo above was expressed in the comments. For that reason, I’m adding the photo below to show that I not only still have this outfit but that my daughter wore it herself on a few occasions about 35 years later!
Well researched information on Kilts! My Paterson ancestors had a tartan that was blue with an orange stripe. My brother had one made for him on one of his many trips to Scotland to play golf.
Blue and orange—New York Mets colors!! 😊 That’s neat about your brother. Do you play golf?
The first thing that struck me when I saw the photo was the woman in it. She reminded me of my grandmother which nearly brought a tear to my eye.
My uncle was in the air force somewhere in Scotland and brought me 2 tartan ties back.
Oh wow! Thank you for reading and for sharing that.
When I was in Scotland back in 1976, I found the tartan for Johnson/Johnston and bought a wool scarf that I still have. No idea if my Johnstons are Scottish, though for a minute Ancestry DNA had me in Scotland.
I think that’s why the register has expanded so: everyone
wants to feel like they have a family tartan, right?! And who says we can’t? The tartans I mentioned in this piece were registered very recently. Enjoy your wool scarf regardless if your ancestors were from Scotland or not, I say!
Salem, Massachusetts recently registered their very own tartan officially with the Scotland registry and I was able to purchase a scarf of it. It’s gorgeous. This was a fun read. Was wondering if “Toosie” had a Scottish accent at all?
What a brilliant idea! Do you happen to know what colors it incorporates?
I don’t remember her having a heavy accent. But she spoke so rarely and was very soft-spoken when she did. I so wish I had had been able to know her when I was older. I would have had lots of questions for her!
Did any of your childhood tartan outfit survive? It is perfectly charming. What a wonderful gift and memory. My sister made me a lovely skirt and vest from ‘black watch’ wool when I was a teenager. I wore them for many years and kept them for a long time. But, eventually, I cut up the skirt and made doll outfits from it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading, Barb!
As a matter of fact, I not only have the entire ensemble, but my daughter wore it a few times herself! I’ll add an addendum to the post so that you and others can see!