Cleghorn Tartans & Clan Information

Scottish Clans

Cleghorn Tartans & Clan

The Cleghorn clan tartan represents one of Scotland's distinguished Lowland families, whose ancestral seat lies in Lanarkshire near the ancient village of Cleghorn. Their legacy spans from medieval Border country to global Scottish communities across North America.

Clan Motto

Vi et virtute
(By strength and virtue)

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears Cleghorn Tartan?

Worn by Cleghorn descendants worldwide, sept families including Cleghorne and Clegbourne bearers, Scottish heritage enthusiasts, and clan members across America, Canada, and Britain.

Associated Names

Cleghorn

Cleghorne

Clegborne

Clegbourne

Cleghern

Cleghearn

Cleghoran

Clegoran

Cleghorne of Cleghorn

de Cleghorn

McCallum (some branches)

Colquhoun (associated)

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Cleghorn warriors served with distinction in Scottish Lowland regiments, Border cavalry units, and British Army forces, particularly in North American colonial campaigns and European conflicts throughout the Empire.

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Royal Scots Greys

Lanarkshire Yeomanry

Canadian Scottish Regiment (Canada)

Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)

Shop Cleghorn Tartan Products

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

Cleghorn 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 Cleghorn Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Clan Origins

The Cleghorn clan traces its origins to the ancient lands of Cleghorn in South Lanarkshire, first documented in medieval charters of the 12th century. The family established themselves as significant landholders in the fertile Clyde Valley, with their ancestral seat near the confluence of the River Clyde and Mouse Water. Early clan records show the Cleghorns serving as witnesses to important land grants and holding minor nobility status. The family demonstrated loyalty to the Scottish Crown while maintaining their territorial holdings through turbulent medieval periods. Archaeological evidence suggests continuous settlement in the Cleghorn area from ancient Celtic times through the clan's documented history.

Clan Expansion

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Cleghorn clan expanded their influence throughout Lanarkshire through strategic alliances and land acquisitions. Notable early clan members included William de Cleghorn, who witnessed important charters in the reign of Alexander III. The family weathered the Wars of Scottish Independence while supporting Scottish sovereignty against English domination. Cleghorns distinguished themselves as Border fighters, defending Scottish territories from English incursions. The clan adapted to changing feudal systems while maintaining their Lowland Scottish identity and territorial connections to their ancestral Cleghorn stronghold.

Where does the name Cleghorn come from?

Cleghorn derives from the Scots Gaelic 'Clach Ghearain' meaning 'stone of complaint' or from Old English 'clæg-horn' meaning 'clay hill.' The name originates from the ancient village of Cleghorn in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, where the clan held ancestral lands. This territorial surname reflects the Lowland Scottish tradition of naming families after their hereditary lands along the Clyde Valley region.

Border Resilience

The 15th and 16th centuries saw Cleghorn clan members establishing cadet branches throughout Scotland and northern England. During the tumultuous Border Reiver period, Cleghorns served both as protectors of Scottish interests and participants in cross-border conflicts. The family produced notable ministers, scholars, and landed gentlemen who contributed to Scottish religious and cultural life. Clan members supported the Protestant Reformation while maintaining traditional Scottish customs. The Cleghorns demonstrated remarkable resilience during political upheavals, including the Union of Crowns and subsequent governmental changes affecting Scottish noble families.

Colonial Expansion

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Cleghorns embraced opportunities in expanding global trade and colonial ventures. Clan members emigrated to North America, establishing Cleghorn settlements in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Notable descendants included ministers, physicians, and merchants who contributed significantly to American colonial development. During Jacobite uprisings, most Cleghorns remained loyal to the British Crown while maintaining their Scottish heritage. The family produced distinguished military officers, including Colonel James Cleghorn who served in American colonial wars, and various clan members who held important positions in British colonial administration worldwide.

The Cleghorn tartan weaves together centuries of Lowland heritage, from Lanarkshire strongholds to Border traditions, in distinctive patterns worn with ancestral pride.

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