Happy National Tartan Day, a national holiday for all Scottish-Americans and the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. The Follow Friday location is the Scottish Tartans Museum. I think I’ll take myself out to lunch (no haggis!) to celebrate, but first a bit on Clan Ross, a Highland Scottish clan I belong to courtesy of my Aberdeenshire grandfather, William Watson Ross.

John ROSS, 5G Grandfather was born about 1730 in Ross-shire; he married my 5G Grandmother, Agnes HOSACK on 14 Nov 1754, in Cromarty.

Clan Ross has four tartans, but I must admit there are so many variations on the Web that I’ve chosen the ones I like best, which is not exactly rigorous historical research. Here they are:

1. Ross Dress tartan (modern & ancient):

National Tartan Day – Clan Ross

2. Ross Hunting tartan (modern & ancient):

National Tartan Day – Clan Ross

3. Ross Hunting Weathered tartan:

National Tartan Day – Clan Ross

4. Ross Red Hunting tartan:

National Tartan Day – Clan Ross
Interested in researching your own tartan for National Tartan Day? Try the Scottish Tartans Authority: The place for tartan and highland dress, a “non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the knowledge of Scottish tartans.”
It was first formed in 1996 by former members of the Scottish Tartans Society. The organisation is dedicated to informing and educating the public about tartan, to facilitating research into tartan and Scottish heritage, to representing and supporting the businesses involved in the tartan sector and to maintaining the collection and library of tartan related artefacts, manuscripts and books.

Membership of the Scottish Tartans Authority is made up of organisations involved in the tartan and highland wear industry, such as weavers and retailers, as well as members of the public, with an interest in Scottish history and heritage. The Scottish Tartans Authority is a registered charity in Scotland and the only organisation dedicated to preserving, promoting and protecting tartan.

New Tartan Resource

Cora Miller, a Girl Scout working on her Family Heritage Fun Patch, shared a great link with me. Cora found a blog featuring “A Guide to Scottish Tartans, so I’m adding it here for other genealogists just like Cora to use. Good luck with your work on your Family Heritage Fun Patch, from one (old) Girl Scout to a young one. Thanks, Cora.

Finding Scottish Ancestors Online eBook

Finding Scottish Ancestors Online

Finding Scottish Ancestors Online

Want to know more about your Scottish ancestors? Try my e-book, Finding Scottish Ancestors Online, which helps you use leading websites and lesser-known databases for Scottish research, featuring search strategies for finding parish records, civil registrations, marriages, wills, tax lists, property assessments, burial registers, and other records.

You’ll also find resources for Scottish place names and geographical location research, and discover supporting resources, including help with Scottish handwriting, clans and tartans, and tutorials to advance your skills with Scottish records.