Macpherson Clan

Scottish Clans

MacPherson Tartans & Clan

The MacPherson clan tartan represents Scotland's most formidable Highland warriors, whose legacy spans from ancient Badenoch chieftains to distinguished military service across the British Empire and North American settlements.

Clan Motto

Touch Not The Cat But A Glove

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears MacPherson Tartan?

Worn by Macpherson descendants worldwide, sept families including MacPhee, Currie, and Gillies bearers, Highland regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.

Associated Names

MacPherson

McPherson

MacPhee

McPhee

MacFee

McFee

Pherson

Phersen

Currie

Curry

MacCurrie

Gillies

Gillis

MacGillies

MacLeish

MacLise

Clarkson

Clark

Clarke

MacClerie

Cattanach

MacCattanach

Gow

MacGowan

MacGoun

MacVurrich

MacMurdo

Murdoch

Murdoson

Smith

MacGowan

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Macpherson warriors served with legendary courage in Highland regiments, colonial forces, and elite British units, particularly distinguishing themselves in Canadian campaigns and Indian frontier battles.

42nd Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch)

78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs)

79th Cameron Highlanders

Seaforth Highlanders

Queen's Own Highlanders

Canadian Scottish Regiment (Canada)

Nova Scotia Highlanders (Canada)

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (Canada)

Lovat Scouts

Scottish Horse

Shop MacPherson Tartan Products

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

MacPherson 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 MacPherson Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Clan Origins

The Macpherson clan originated in Badenoch as descendants of Muireach, the Celtic parson of Kingussie in the 12th century. As children of Clan Chattan, the Macphersons established themselves as fierce Highland warriors under the leadership of chiefs who claimed descent from both ecclesiastical and warrior traditions. The clan's motto 'Touch not the cat bot a glove' reflected their membership in the powerful Clan Chattan confederation. Early Macphersons controlled extensive lands around Loch Laggan and the Spey Valley, building their strength through strategic alliances with neighboring Highland clans while maintaining their distinctive identity as both spiritual and temporal leaders in medieval Scotland.

Clan Feuds

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Macphersons engaged in fierce feuds with the Davidsons over precedence within Clan Chattan, culminating in the famous Battle of North Inch in Perth in 1396. Despite internal conflicts, the clan expanded their territorial control throughout Badenoch under chiefs like Ewan Ban Macpherson, who established the clan's reputation for military prowess. The Macphersons demonstrated fierce loyalty to Scottish independence, fighting alongside Robert the Bruce and later supporting various Stewart monarchs. Their strategic position in the Central Highlands made them valuable allies and formidable enemies, as they controlled key mountain passes and trade routes between the Lowlands and northern Scotland.

Where does the name MacPherson come from?

Macpherson derives from Gaelic 'Mac a' Phearsain' meaning 'son of the parson,' reflecting the clan's ecclesiastical origins in medieval Scotland. The name originated when the first chief was the son of a Celtic priest in Badenoch, before clerical celibacy became mandatory. This patronymic surname reflects the Highland tradition of clerical families who served as both spiritual leaders and temporal chiefs in the Scottish Highlands.

Clan Resilience

The 16th and 17th centuries marked a turbulent period for the Macphersons as they navigated religious conflicts and political upheavals while maintaining their Highland traditions. Clan members supported various Jacobite causes, with Duncan Macpherson of Cluny leading clan warriors in multiple uprisings against British rule. The clan suffered devastating losses during the religious wars, yet continued to expand their influence through strategic marriages and military alliances. Notable clan members included scholars and poets who preserved Gaelic culture, while warrior chiefs like Ewen Macpherson maintained the clan's martial reputation. The family weathered governmental persecution while secretly supporting the exiled Stewart dynasty and Highland independence movements.

Clan Uprisings

The 18th century brought both triumph and tragedy for the Macphersons, particularly during the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745. Ewan Macpherson of Cluny became one of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's most loyal supporters, providing crucial Highland warriors and financial support throughout the '45 rebellion. Following Culloden's defeat, Cluny remained a fugitive for nine years while protecting the prince's gold and maintaining Jacobite resistance networks. Meanwhile, other clan branches served with distinction in British Highland regiments across the expanding Empire, establishing Macpherson settlements in North America, particularly in Nova Scotia, North Carolina, and the Canadian Maritimes, where they maintained their Highland traditions and military service.

The Macpherson tartan embodies the fierce independence of Clan Chattan's children, from Badenoch strongholds to global Highland regiments, worn with unwavering pride.

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