Chattan Tartans & Clan Information

Scottish Clans

Chattan Tartans & Clan

The Chattan clan tartan represents Scotland's most powerful Highland confederation, uniting fierce warrior clans under the wildcat banner. From Badenoch strongholds to global settlements, this ancient alliance shaped Highland history through centuries of courage.

Clan Motto

Touch not the cat bot a glove

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears Chattan Tartan?

Worn by Chattan confederation descendants, Mackintosh chiefs, Macpherson warriors, Davidson families, Shaw sept members, and Highland heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, Britain, and Australia.

Associated Names

Mackintosh

Macpherson

Davidson

Shaw

MacGillivray

MacBean

MacQueen

Farquharson

Cattanach

Clark

MacThomas

Ritchie

Noble

Dallas

Gillanders

MacHardy

Elder

Gow

MacAndrew

Small

Tosh

Maccombie

Cattanoch

Gilchrist

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Chattan warriors distinguished themselves in Highland regiments including the Black Watch, Seaforth Highlanders, and Cameron Highlanders, serving with legendary courage across British Empire campaigns and North American conflicts.

42nd Regiment of Foot (Black Watch) (Scotland)

78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs) (Scotland)

79th Regiment Cameron Highlanders (Scotland)

72nd Highlanders (Scotland)

93rd Sutherland Highlanders (Scotland)

Canadian Militia Units (Canada)

Highland Light Infantry (Canada)

Shop Chattan Tartan Products

Explore authentic Chattan confederation products including traditional Highland kilts, clan badges featuring the wildcat crest, tartan accessories, ceremonial dirks, and heritage items for descendants worldwide.

Chattan 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 Chattan Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Birth of Chattan

The Chattan confederation emerged in 13th-century Scotland when Eva, heiress of Clan Chattan, married Angus Mackintosh around 1291, uniting two powerful Highland lineages. This strategic alliance created the foundation for Scotland's greatest clan confederation, binding together fierce warrior clans under the wildcat banner. The original Chattan lands centered on Badenoch and Lochaber, where the confederation established dominance over vast Highland territories. Early clan bonds were cemented through blood oaths, marriage alliances, and shared military campaigns, creating an unbreakable Highland brotherhood that would endure for centuries.

Battle-Tested Clans

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Chattan confederation expanded dramatically as powerful clans like the Macphersons, Davidsons, and Shaws joined the alliance. The confederation faced its greatest test during the Battle of the North Inch in Perth (1396), where Chattan warriors fought rival Clan Kay in judicial combat before King Robert III. This legendary conflict demonstrated Chattan martial prowess and cemented their reputation as Scotland's fiercest warriors. The confederation's internal bonds strengthened through shared resistance against Lowland encroachment and mutual defense pacts that protected member clans' territories across the central Highlands.

Where does the name Chattan come from?

Chattan derives from Gaelic 'Clan Chattan' meaning 'clan of the cats' or 'children of the wildcat.' The name reflects the confederation's totemic connection to the fierce Highland wildcat, symbolizing their warrior spirit and territorial nature. This ancient alliance formed in medieval Scotland united numerous clans under the wildcat banner, creating the most formidable Highland confederation in Scottish history.

Golden Age

The 16th and 17th centuries marked Chattan's golden age as the confederation wielded unprecedented Highland influence under successive Mackintosh chiefs. Clan Chattan warriors fought at Culloden (1746) supporting Bonnie Prince Charlie, with devastating consequences as government forces targeted confederation members during Highland reprisals. Despite post-Culloden persecution, Chattan clans preserved their unity through secret gatherings and cultural resistance. Many confederation members emigrated to North America, establishing Chattan settlements in Nova Scotia, North Carolina, and New York, where they maintained clan traditions while building new Highland communities.

Global Legacy

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Chattan descendants distinguished themselves in Highland regiments, serving with legendary courage in British Empire campaigns from India to Canada. The confederation adapted to Highland Clearances through organized emigration, with clan leaders facilitating group settlements that preserved Chattan unity overseas. Notable confederation members included military heroes, colonial administrators, and Highland scholars who documented clan traditions. In Scotland, remaining Chattan families modernized their estates while maintaining ancient clan bonds through Highland societies and annual gatherings that celebrated their wildcat heritage.

The Chattan tartan embodies the fierce unity of Scotland's greatest clan confederation, weaving together the proud heritage of the Highland wildcat clans.

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