Cleland Tartans & Clan Information

Scottish Clans

Cleland Tartans & Clan

The Cleland clan tartan represents a distinguished Lanarkshire family whose legacy spans from medieval origins to international prominence across Scotland, North America, and beyond through centuries of heritage.

Clan Motto

Per aspera ad astra
(Through hardships to the stars)

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears Cleland Tartan?

Worn by Cleland descendants worldwide, sept families including Clelland and McClelland bearers, Scottish heritage enthusiasts, and clan members across America, Canada, Britain, and Australia.

Associated Names

Clelland

McClelland

MacClelland

Clealand

Cleeland

MacCleland

M'Clelland

McClealand

Cliland

Clellant

Clelan

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Cleland warriors served with honor in Scottish regiments, British Army units, and colonial forces, particularly distinguished in North American campaigns and frontier service throughout the British Empire.

Royal Scots (Scotland)

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Highland Light Infantry (Scotland)

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (Scotland)

Canadian Scottish Regiment (Canada)

Shop Cleland Tartan Products

Explore authentic Cleland clan merchandise including traditional Highland kilts, tartan accessories, clan crests, Scottish scarves, ties, and ceremonial Highland dress for descendants worldwide.

Cleland 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 Cleland Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Clan Origins

The Cleland clan traces its origins to the ancient lands of Cleland in Lanarkshire, first documented in the 12th century when the family held territories in the fertile Clyde Valley. Early clan records show William de Cleland witnessing charters in the 1170s, establishing the family as significant landholders in central Scotland. The Clelands demonstrated loyalty to Scottish independence during the Wars of Scottish Independence, supporting Robert the Bruce's cause against English domination. Their strategic location in Lanarkshire placed them at the heart of Scottish political and military affairs throughout the medieval period, building foundations for centuries of distinguished service.

Covenanter Influence

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cleland clan expanded their influence through military service and scholarly pursuits. Notable clan members included ministers, educators, and soldiers who served in various Scottish conflicts. The family weathered the religious upheavals of the Reformation, with many Clelands embracing Presbyterian faith and supporting Covenanter causes. William Cleland emerged as a prominent Covenanter leader and poet, commanding forces at the Battle of Drumclog in 1679 before dying heroically at Dunkeld in 1689. His military leadership and literary works, including satirical verses against Jacobite forces, established the clan's reputation for both martial valor and intellectual achievement.

Where does the name Cleland come from?

Cleland derives from the Gaelic 'Cluain' meaning meadow or pasture land, combined with territorial suffixes. The name originates from the lands of Cleland in Lanarkshire, Scotland, where the family held ancestral territories from medieval times. This locative surname reflects the Scottish tradition of naming clans after their geographical holdings in the fertile Clyde Valley region.

Colonial Migration

The 18th century saw Cleland clan members emigrating to North America, establishing settlements in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. These pioneering families became prominent in colonial society, with descendants serving in the American Revolution on both sides of the conflict. Meanwhile, Scottish Clelands continued military traditions in Highland regiments and British Army service. The clan adapted to industrial changes in Lanarkshire, with members becoming successful merchants, ministers, and professionals. Educational achievement remained a clan hallmark, with Clelands founding schools and contributing to Scottish intellectual life during the Enlightenment period.

Global Expansion

Throughout the 19th century, Clelands continued expanding across the British Empire and North America. Clan members served as colonial administrators, military officers, and pioneers in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Scotland, the family adapted to industrial revolution changes while maintaining their Lanarkshire connections. Notable 19th-century Clelands included ministers, educators, and business leaders who contributed to Scottish emigrant communities worldwide. The clan's Presbyterian heritage influenced their involvement in educational and missionary work, establishing schools and churches across the Scottish diaspora from Nova Scotia to New South Wales.

The Cleland tartan embodies Scottish heritage from Lanarkshire roots to global diaspora, worn with pride by descendants across America, Canada, and Britain.

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