My family comes from Scotland and my uncle is desperate to find our original crest and tartan, any ideas?

Question

I'm guessing the best thing would be to contact someone who does Heraldry, but I'm not sure how to find a good one.

Hi, my family surname is Cairns and we come from Dunblane. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

these might help you and i spose there are many more, you wouldnt have to necessarily order from this site but you can look up your crest and tartan details

http://www.tartanonline.com/tartanonline/tartan_other.html

http://www.infokey.com/hon/product.htm

http://www.scotclans.com/

http://www.infokey.com/hall/tartans.htm#Clans/Septs

http://home.btconnect.com/tartancorner/clans.htm

http://heritage.scotsman.com/ingenuity.cfm?id=2257192005

Answer 2

http://www.citadel.abelgratis.co.uk/personal/contactpersonal/familyhistory.htm - This site has multiple family crests for the Cairns family of Scotland and a great deal more information. Also check under the coat of arms link. Only a few families in Scotland have their own individual tartans and two of the websites that I found said that there is no Cairns family tartan. There is a Dunblane tartan for the town itself which would be appropriate for you to use or you could design your own using colors from the Dunblane tartan and the family crest.

Answer 3

There are only a certain amount of surnames who have a tartan so check on that list which has already been posted. Just remember that even though your family came from Scotland, it doesn't mean they had a crest. My family comes from Scotland but my original surname was Wozinski as my grandfather was Polish so you may need to settle for a tartan of a close relation rather than directly. I like using the Sutherland as my Grandparents on my mum's side were Sutherland. If you don't find one you like then you can always adopt one. The most common tartans sold in the North East of Scotland tend to be dress Stewart and dress Gordon.

Answer 4

There are cloth/wool manufacturers in Scotland who know virtually all the names and heraldry for all the different tartans, etc., and they would be glad to put your family onto the right path to the family crest.

Below is the Search page I found with the start of a long list of manufacturers.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

You can probably get a copy of the Book of Tartans. We used to have one many years ago. Each family name is assigned a tartan that they may wear, so for example if your uncle's name is MacDonald, he can wear the 'Hunting MacDonald' tartan. I bet you could do a search of the internet and not only with a name, but also a picture.

Answer 6

As simple as it may sound, I use google for everything..it's the way you phrase the search. Using your last name plus a couple more words. I'm sure by experimenting with the search engine you will find all kinds of leads of sites that will help you get the answers you are searching for. Good luck!
for example: McCoy crest and tartan .....then SEARCH

Answer 7

Per your additional information. Here's the info you need. These are your people, and this is your crest, and your tartan.


http://www.ancestralscotland.com/clandetails.html?clan=cairns.html
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Please post the family surname. And if possible, where in Scotland your family is from.

Answer 8

Aye Suzie lass, your stuff is always a delight. I'm not Scottish but between you, Craig and Billy, I sometimes wish I were. By the way Craig says "doughnut" is a term for a "rude" part of the body, as in ,"raffle yer doughnut" so what is "doughnut hurling"? Also I "understood" what the Scotsman was saying. Does this mean I have been watching the ' Late Late Show with T.V.'s own Craig Ferguson" too much?

Answer 9

The site you need is

http://www.scotclans.com/

Click on Clans A-Z first and see if your name comes up.

If it doesn't, click on What's My Clan (this will tell you which clan your name is a "sept" of).

You'll then be able to click on Tartan and Crest on the left hand side of the screen. And you'll get a brief clan history.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Google tartans. You will find many that have search engines to look up your name and thereby your clan or sept. Have fun!