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Hi All, It is not clear to me the origins of the ancient Livingstone tartan pattern and perhaps many of you are curious about this as well. I realize that is not likely ancient or unique to our clan, but probably adopted in the 19th or early twentieth century, possibly a variation of 18th century old tartan worn by the MacDonnells of Kepoch at the Battle of Culloden. I am wondering what the earliest record the Baron of Bachuil and Niall have of highland and lowland Livingstones wearing the red/green ancient Livingstone (1003) Tartan and when is thought this tartan came to be used by our clan. The Battle of Culloden veteran Donald Livingstone (1728-1816) of Movern is known to have worn his kilt into his old age. Whether he wore a tartan favoured by the old Movern/Isle of Lismore Maconleas or a tartan pattern worn by several clans in the district is anyones guess. As he was a great storyteller regarding his experiences at the Battle of Culloden, perhaps it would have possible he wore a tartan he and others serving with the Stuarts of Appin favoured in 1746. All we really know is that Donald Livingstone of Movern and almost certainly other Livingstones of Movern, Isle of Lismore, Mull and the nearby area wore tartan prior to the early 19th century cataloging that began around 1816 or thereabouts and the subsequent tartan fad. regards Donald (Livingstone) Clink

As usual, I'll be interested to read any responses, but have no info to add to the discussion!

According to the Scottish Tartan Society's museum which I visited many years ago. There are two main tartans attributed to the MacLay, MacLeay/ Livingston.#1:red-56/green-8/black-8/green-8/black-8/azure-12/yellow-2 which I understand will be the sett 01488: This is normally called the MacLeay tartan. According to the late, tartan expert, J. MacGregor-Hastie, this sett was being woven by the firm of Wm. Wilson & Son of Bannockburn and was shown at the Highland Exhibition in Inverness in 1930. As advised on the web site, the sett is similar to the MacLaine of Lochbuie and was used as a basis for the MacLeay, both merely variations of a pattern common to the area and is likely to have belonged to the Argyll Maclays. #2: Green-24/red-9/Black-2/red-4/black-2/red-8/green-32/red-40/green-4/red-16. This was included in The Highland Society of London collection (c.1816) where it was labelled Livingstone-MacLeay. This sett closely resembles a relic from the '45' named McDonnell of Keppoch. The close proximity of the Keppoch MacDonalds and the MacLeas may explain the similarity and it also originates from a pattern commonly woven in the area. This sett is normally worn by the Lowland Livingstons of Westquarter and Callendar. Stewart.

Hi Stewart, Regarding the second tartan red-green-black tartan you mentioned, you may have contributed much to possibly solving the mystery of the Old Livingstone Tartan 1003 with red-green-black that I am researching. I am wondering about

Hi Stewart, One other thought. While we know that the Lowland Livingstons consider the red green and black Livingstone tartan pattern to be theres, I would suspect that there is a good possiblity that the highland "Maconlea or MacLeas" wore the same or simalar pattern many years prior to the Lowland

Stewart, This is very interesting indeed. STA gives for ITI number: 1003 Livingston Colour Sequence: GRKRKRGRGRGRGRKRKR Thread Count: G24R8K2R4K2R8G32R40G4R16G4R40G32R8K2R4K2R8 Notes: As #895 but with black instead of green lines between the green bands. STS notes: Robert Bain's ''The Clans and Tartans of Scotland'' illustrates this sett. It is similar to the MacDonell of Keppoch. The small Highland clan of Livingston from the Isle of Lismore and Western Argyll originally bore a Gaelic name spelled in different ways - MacDunsleinhe, Mac-an-Leigh, or Maclea - and they were connected to the Stewarts of Appin. There is also an unconnected Lowland family deriving their name from the lands of Levingstoun. You say that

Donald, See my reply to Stewart - I think that both tartans are highland in origin. Prior to the tartan revival lowlanders wouldn't have dreamt of wearing the tartan. Regards Niall

Hi Niall, I agree with you absolutely regarding the origin of the Livingstone Tartan. In the case of

Hi Niall, Regarding Robert Bain's book I mean't "early 20th century" not early 19th century. That is an error on my part. regards Donald