MacAulay Clan

Scottish Clans

MacAulay Tartans & Clan

The MacAulay clan tartan represents Scotland's distinguished island chiefs, whose legacy spans from medieval Hebridean lordship to global influence across North America, celebrated by descendants in Canada, America, and Britain.

Clan Motto

Dulce Periculum
(Danger is Sweet)

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears MacAulay Tartan?

Worn by MacAulay descendants globally, sept families including Caulay, Cawley, MacCaulay bearers, Highland regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts throughout Canada, America, and Scotland.

Associated Names

MacAulay

McAulay

Aulay

Caulay

Cawley

MacCaulay

McCauley

MacCauley

McAwley

Macauley

Caulfield

MacCall

McCall

Macallay

McAllay

MacUalraig

Amhlaoibh

MacAmhlaoibh

Olaf

Olsen

Pauley

Pawley

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

MacAulay warriors served with honor in Highland regiments and Scottish units, particularly in Canadian frontier service, colonial campaigns, and British Army Highland battalions throughout the Empire's expansion.

Seaforth Highlanders

Cameron Highlanders

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (Canada)

Black Watch

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Highland Light Infantry

Canadian Scottish Regiment (Canada)

Nova Scotia Highlanders (Canada)

Shop MacAulay Tartan Products

Explore authentic MacAulay clan merchandise including traditional Highland kilts, clan crest accessories, tartan scarves, ceremonial ties, and heritage items crafted for descendants across North America and Britain.

MacAulay 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.

The MacAulay Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Island Origins

The MacAulay clan originated in the Scottish Hebrides as hereditary keepers of Ulva, a small island near Mull, tracing their lineage to Norse-Gaelic origins in the 9th century. The MacAulays served as trusted guardians under the Lords of the Isles, maintaining strategic control over this sacred burial ground where many Scottish kings and chiefs were interred. Early clan records from the 13th century document their role as island custodians, wielding significant influence in Hebridean politics. The family's Norse ancestry through Olaf the White distinguished them among Highland clans, creating a unique cultural bridge between Viking and Celtic traditions that shaped their island stronghold for centuries.

Island Power

During the medieval period, MacAulays expanded beyond Ulva to establish themselves on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, where they became prominent clan leaders under MacLeod overlordship. The Lewis MacAulays built their seat at Uig, controlling vast territories across the island's western shores. Clan chief Aulay MacAulay distinguished himself in 16th-century island warfare, defending Lewis against rival clan incursions while maintaining the family's traditional maritime expertise. The MacAulays developed a fearsome reputation as sea warriors, commanding galleys that patrolled Hebridean waters and participated in clan conflicts throughout the Western Isles. Their dual heritage as both Norse seafarers and Gaelic chieftains made them formidable allies and dangerous enemies in the complex politics of medieval Scotland.

Where does the name MacAulay come from?

MacAulay derives from Gaelic 'Mac Amhlaoibh' meaning 'son of Olaf,' tracing to Norse-Gaelic origins in the Scottish Hebrides. The name reflects Viking settlement in the Western Isles, where MacAulays became hereditary keepers of Ulva island near Mull. This ancient surname connects to Olaf the White, a 9th-century Norse king, showing the clan's unique Norse-Celtic heritage among Scotland's island nobility.

Clan Migration

The 17th century brought dramatic changes as MacAulays faced the decline of clan power and increasing government control over the Highlands and Islands. Many clan members emigrated to Ireland during the Plantation period, establishing MacAulay communities in Ulster that would later migrate to North America. The Lewis MacAulays struggled to maintain their traditional territories as economic pressures mounted, forcing younger sons to seek opportunities in military service and overseas ventures. Clan members served in Jacobite forces during the 1715 and 1745 uprisings, with some fighting at Culloden for the Stuart cause. The aftermath of Culloden devastated Highland clan structure, prompting large-scale MacAulay emigration to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the American colonies where they rebuilt their communities.

North America

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, MacAulays became pioneers in North American settlement, establishing thriving communities across the Maritime provinces and Scottish settlements in the Carolinas. Clan members served with distinction in colonial militias, the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and later in Canadian frontier defense. The Highland Clearances forced additional MacAulay emigration from Lewis and surrounding islands, with entire families relocating to Cape Breton, Ontario, and the American Midwest. Many MacAulays distinguished themselves as teachers, ministers, and community leaders, preserving Gaelic culture and Highland traditions in their new homelands. The clan's maritime heritage proved invaluable in coastal settlements, where MacAulays became successful fishermen, shipbuilders, and merchants throughout Atlantic Canada.

The MacAulay tartan embodies centuries of Highland heritage from ancient Ulva strongholds to noble Lewis leadership, woven in patterns treasured by descendants worldwide.

Featured Collections