The Johnstone clan emerged as the most powerful Border Reiver family in medieval Scotland, receiving lands in Annandale from Robert the Bruce in the 14th century. The family established their seat at Johnstone Castle and quickly became the dominant force in Dumfriesshire through strategic alliances and fierce warfare. Early clan chiefs like Sir John Johnstone served as Wardens of the West March, commanding Border defenses against English incursions. The Johnstones demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Scottish independence while building their reputation as formidable warriors who controlled vast territories along the Anglo-Scottish frontier through strength and cunning.
Scottish Clans
Johnstone Tartans & Clan
The Johnstone clan tartan represents Scotland's most powerful Border Reiver family, whose feudal dominance shaped Dumfriesshire for centuries. From Annandale castles to North American settlements, Johnstone descendants wear their ancestral colors with pride.
Clan Motto
Nunquam Non Paratus
(Never Unprepared)
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears Johnstone Tartan?
Worn by Johnstone descendants globally, sept families including Johnston, Johnstoun, and MacIan bearers, Border regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
Johnston
Johnstoun
MacIan
McIan
MacShane
Shane
Johnstonne
Jhonstoun
Jonston
Johnstun
Johnstown
MacJohn
Johnson
Jones
Jackson
Iain
Ian
John
Jack
Jock
Johnnie
Johnny
Shannach
Shanks
Military Heritage
Associated Regiments
Johnstone warriors served with distinction in Border regiments, Lowland units, and colonial forces, particularly excelling in North American frontier campaigns and British Army service throughout the Empire's expansion.
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Dumfriesshire Militia
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Royal Regiment of Canada (Canada)
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Canada)
Shop Johnstone Tartan Products
Discover authentic Johnstone clan products including traditional kilts, Border dress accessories, clan crests, tartan scarves, ties, and ceremonial items crafted for descendants across North America and Britain.
- All Categories
- Accessoires pour vêtements traditionnels
- Bandanas pour animaux de compagnie
- Bandeaux
- Barrettes, pinces et épingles à cheveux
- Bas de Noël
- Bas de pantalon
- Bas pour bébés et tout-petits
- Besaces
- Bodies bébés
- Bonnets
- Bottes
- Boucles de ceinture
- Boucles d’oreilles
- Boutons de manchette
- Breloques et pendentifs
- Bretelles
- Broches et épinglettes
- Cartables
- Casquettes de baseball
- Casquettes plates
- Chapeaux
- Chapeaux de cowboy
- Chapeaux d’hiver
- Chaussures
- Chemins de table
- Chemises
- Colliers et cravates pour animaux de compagnie
- Colliers standards
- Cordons
- Costumes et tailleurs
- Coussins et porte-alliances
- Couvertures
- Cravates
- Drapeaux et manches à air
- Décorations
- Décorations de Noël
- Ensembles pour bébés et enfants
- Ensembles pour bébés et tout-petits
- Foulards
- Fournitures de mariage
- Gilets et vestes sans manches
- Grande cornemuse des Highlands
- Hauts de vêtements
- Housses de coussin pour chaises et canapés
- Jarretelles
- Jupes
- Lits pour animaux de compagnie
- Manteaux bouffants
- Manteaux et vestes
- Masques faciaux de mode
- Nappes
- Pochettes de costume
- Porte-monnaies
- Robes
- Rubans et galons
- Sacs fourre-tout
- Sacs pour cadeaux
- Sacs à bandoulière
- Sacs à dos
- Sacs à main
- Serviettes en tissu
- Shorts
- Tabliers
- Tapis de sapin de Noël
- Vestes boléro
- Vestes universitaires
- Vêtements traditionnels et de cérémonie
- Écharpes
- Écharpes, foulards et châles
- All Styles
- 16 oz
- 3 Piece
- 5 Yards - Casual
- 8 Yards - Traditional
- 9 Yards - Traditional
- A Line
- All Round Pleated
- Argyll
- Bias Cut
- Bow
- Dinner
- Double Breasted
- Dresses
- Golf
- Great Kilt
- Horseshoe Neck
- Infinity Scarf
- Kate Coat
- Kilt Shoes
- Mini
- Narrow Heel
- Pencil
- Pet Accessories
- Prince Charlie
- Quilted
- Ring
- Rosette
- Shirt
- Single Breasted
- Sleeveless
- Slim Cut
- Straight Cut Bottom
- Striped
- Tie
- Wrap
- All Products
- Accessoires pour cheveux
- Accessoires tartan
- Bandeau
- Bowties
- Braces
- Broche tartan
- Ceintures en cuir tartan
- Chapeaux et casquettes en tartan
- Chemises kilt
- Coats & Jackets
- Costume
- Court
- Cravates en tartan
- Dog Rug
- Embrayages
- Fly Plaid & Broches
- Ghillie Brogues
- Grand Kilt - Tous Tartans
- H-Bar Set
- Instruments de musique
- Kilt 9 Yards - Tous les tartans
- Kilt Flashes
- Kilt Flashs
- Kilt de 5 mètres - Tous les tartans
- Kilt végétalien - Tous les tartans
- Kilted/Plissé
- Kilts en cuir
- Kilts en jean
- Kilts féminins
- Kilts hybrides
- Lanyards
- Neckwear
- Pantalon tartan
- Pince à cheveux
- Plaid Fly
- Ring Cushion
- Robes tartan
- Romper Suit
- Ruban tartan
- Sacs à bandoulière
- Sacs à main
- Serape
- Sporrans
- Stoles
- Tabliers en tartan
- Tartan Beret
- Tartan Capes
- Tartan Decoration
- Tartan Dresses
- Tartan Knickerbockers
- Tartan Pants
- Tartan Poncho
- Tartan Ribbon
- Tartan Scarf
- Tartan Shawl
- Tartan Skirts
- Tartan Ties
- Tartan/Cargo
- Tenue kilt
- Trew
- Vestes
- Vestes et gilets kilt
- Vêtements pour chiens
- Waistcoat
- Wedding Garters
- Women Shoes
- kilt pour enfants
- masque
- Écharpe en tartan
- Écharpe tartan
- All Prices
- Under $50
- $50 - $100
- $100 - $200
- $200 - $500
- $500+
Associated Tartans
Your Selected Tartan
Other Associated Tartans
Johnstone Tartans
0 Variations
Each tartan can feature several variations, with the most common being Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress.
Loading tartans…
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.
Modern Tartan
Modern tartans came about after 1860, when chemical dyes replaced natural ones. The difference is pretty striking. Those soft, earthy greens became deep bottle green. Pale blues turned into rich navy. Reds went from warm and muted to full-on scarlet. If you're after something bold and vivid, Modern is usually the one to go for. It's the version most people picture when they think of a classic tartan.
Weathered Tartan
Weathered tartans take their inspiration from what happens to fabric left out in the elements — faded by sun, softened by rain, worn in by time. The colours shift towards olive greens, warm browns, and very pale blues, with reds that fade down to something close to a dusty pink. It's a more rustic, lived-in look, and honestly a really beautiful one. If you want something that feels a little more understated and natural, Weathered is worth a look.
Hunting Tartan
Hunting tartans are essentially the camouflage version of a clan's tartan — greens and browns brought forward so the wearer could move through the landscape without standing out. Not every clan has one, and that's by design. If a tartan is already mostly green or brown (like the Black Watch or Gunn), there's no need to adapt it. But a tartan like the Fraser, which is predominantly red, would make someone very easy to spot in the field — so a Hunting version makes a lot of sense for clans like that.
Dress Tartan
Dress tartans were made for the big occasions — Highland games, celebrations, and traditional dance. The pattern stays the same, but the main colour is swapped out for white, or extra white is woven in to give it a lighter, more formal feel. As you'd expect from the Scots, the rules get bent every now and then — yellow has been used instead of white in some cases, which is exactly how the famously bold MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came to be.
The Johnstone Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Johnstone clan reached the pinnacle of Border power through relentless feuding and territorial expansion. The family engaged in legendary conflicts with rival clans, particularly the Maxwells, in struggles that shaped Border history for generations. Notable chiefs like James Johnstone of Johnstone led devastating raids into England while defending Scottish sovereignty. The clan's influence extended throughout Dumfriesshire and beyond through strategic marriages and military prowess. Johnstones established cadet branches at Corhead, Newbie, and Westerhall, creating a network of strongholds that dominated the western Borders until the Union of Crowns.
Where does the name Johnstone come from?
Johnstone derives from 'John's town' or 'settlement of John,' originating from the barony of Johnstone in Annandale, Dumfriesshire. The name first appears in 12th-century charters when the family received lands from Robert the Bruce. This territorial surname reflects the Border tradition of naming families after their ancestral strongholds, with Johnstone Castle serving as the clan's historic seat in the Scottish Borders region for over seven centuries.
The 17th century brought transformation as Border warfare declined following James VI's accession to the English throne. Johnstone chiefs adapted by pursuing political influence and military service beyond the Borders. The family supported the Royalist cause during the Civil Wars, with successive chiefs serving as Earls of Annandale and Hartfell. Notable clan members included William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale, who served as Secretary of State for Scotland. The clan weathered religious conflicts while maintaining Presbyterian faith and establishing themselves in Edinburgh society, transitioning from Border raiders to influential Scottish nobility.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Johnstone descendants embraced opportunities across the expanding British Empire while maintaining their Border heritage. Clan members served as officers in Highland and Lowland regiments, colonial administrators in North America and India, and pioneers in Australia and New Zealand. The family produced distinguished military leaders, diplomats, and scholars who carried Johnstone honor worldwide. Many emigrated to America and Canada during Highland Clearances, establishing Johnstone communities in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the American South. The clan adapted to industrial changes while preserving their warrior traditions.
The Johnstone tartan carries the fierce heritage of Scotland's most formidable Border Reiver clan, from Annandale strongholds to global descendants who honor their warrior legacy.
Featured Collections
Craftsmanship defined by tradition, designed for the modern era.
Quick View
Featured Item
Men's Highland Wear
From $120.00
