Blackwood Tartans & Clan Information

Scottish Clans

Blackwood Tartans & Clan

The Blackwood clan tartan represents one of Scotland's distinguished Border families, whose legacy spans from medieval Dumfriesshire estates to military leadership across the British Empire and Scottish settlements in North America and Canada.

Clan Motto

Nil desperandum
(Never despair)

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears Blackwood Tartan?

Worn by Blackwood descendants worldwide, sept families including Blackie and Wood bearers, Border regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.

Associated Names

Blackwood

Blackie

Wood

Woods

Blackwoods

de Blackwood

Blakewood

Blaikwood

Blakwod

Blacwood

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Blackwood warriors served with distinction in Border regiments, Lowland forces, and British Army units, particularly excelling in North American campaigns and colonial frontier service throughout the Empire.

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Royal Scots Fusiliers

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Black Watch (Canada)

Nova Scotia Highlanders (Canada)

Australian Scottish Regiment (Australia)

Shop Blackwood Tartan Products

Discover authentic Blackwood clan products including traditional kilts, Border dress accessories, clan crests, tartan scarves, ties, and ceremonial items crafted for descendants across North America.

Blackwood Tartans

0 Variations

Each tartan can feature several variations, with the most common being Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress.

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Ancient Tartan

Before 1860, all fabric dyes came from nature — plants, berries, bark, and insects. The colours they produced were softer and more muted than what we're used to today: think mossy greens, dusty sky blues, and reds with a warm, orangey tone. A lot of people actually prefer Ancient tartans for this reason — the gentler contrasts let the pattern breathe and stand out in a way that bolder colours sometimes don't. Worth knowing: the pattern itself, called the sett, is exactly the same across all variations of a tartan. It's only the colours that change.

The Blackwood Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Border Origins

The Blackwood clan traces its origins to the ancient barony of Blackwood in Dumfriesshire, first documented in 1189 when Hugh de Blackwood witnessed royal charters. The family established themselves as significant Border landholders, with their principal seat at Blackwood Castle near Lesmahagow. Early clan members served as sheriffs and wardens of the Scottish Marches, defending against English raids. The Blackwoods demonstrated fierce loyalty to Scottish independence, supporting William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence, earning royal recognition for their Border service.

Border Influence

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Blackwood clan expanded their influence throughout the Scottish Borders through strategic alliances and military prowess. Notable clan members included Sir Adam Blackwood of that Ilk, who served as Warden of the West March, and his descendants who established cadet branches in Selkirkshire and Lanarkshire. The family weathered the Border Reivers' conflicts while maintaining their Catholic faith during the Reformation. Blackwoods distinguished themselves as scholars and diplomats, with Adam Blackwood becoming a renowned historian at the court of Mary Queen of Scots in France.

Where does the name Blackwood come from?

Blackwood derives from Old English 'blaec wudu' meaning 'dark wood' or 'black forest.' The name originates from the ancient Blackwood estate in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, where the clan held lands from the 12th century. This territorial surname reflects the Border tradition of naming families after their ancestral woodlands and forested holdings throughout southern Scotland's Border regions.

Jacobite Era

The 17th and 18th centuries brought new challenges and opportunities for the Blackwood clan during Scotland's political upheavals. Clan members supported the Jacobite cause, with several Blackwoods serving in Prince Charlie's army at Culloden. Following the defeat, many Blackwoods emigrated to North America, establishing settlements in Nova Scotia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In Scotland, the family adapted to agricultural improvements while maintaining their Border traditions. The clan produced distinguished military officers, including Colonel James Blackwood who served with honor in the American Revolutionary War.

Imperial Service

Throughout the 19th century, Blackwoods embraced opportunities in the expanding British Empire while preserving their Border heritage. Clan members served as officers in Highland and Lowland regiments, colonial administrators in Canada and Australia, and pioneers in New Zealand. The family produced notable scholars, including Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, who served as Governor General of Canada and Viceroy of India. In Scotland, Blackwoods contributed to industrial development while maintaining their ancestral connections to Dumfriesshire and the Border regions.

The Blackwood tartan weaves together centuries of Border heritage, from ancient Dumfriesshire strongholds to global service, in distinctive patterns worn with Highland pride.

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