The McLaughlin clan traces its origins to the ancient O'Lochlainn dynasty of Ulster, first documented as High Kings of Ireland in the 11th century. Domnall Ua Lochlainn ruled as Ard Rí from 1090-1121, establishing the family as one of Ireland's most powerful Celtic dynasties. The clan controlled vast territories across County Donegal and Inishowen Peninsula, wielding supreme authority over northern Ireland. Early McLaughlins demonstrated fierce independence, resisting Viking invasions while incorporating Norse influences into their Gaelic culture and military tactics.
Scottish Clans
McLaughlin Tartans & Clan
The McLaughlin clan tartan represents one of Ireland and Scotland's most distinguished families, whose legacy spans from medieval Ulster chieftains to influential settlers across North America, embodying centuries of Celtic heritage and pride.
Clan Motto
Virtus et Honor
(Virtue and Honor)
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears McLaughlin Tartan?
Worn by McLaughlin descendants worldwide, sept families including MacLaughlin and O'Loughlin bearers, Celtic heritage societies, and Irish-Scottish enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
MacLaughlin
MacLachlan
MacLoughlin
O'Loughlin
O'Lochlainn
Loughlin
Lachlan
Laughlin
Lochlann
McLoughlin
MacCloughlin
Loughlan
Lauchlan
Loughran
Lochlan
Shop McLaughlin Tartan Products
Discover authentic McLaughlin clan products including traditional kilts, Celtic dress accessories, clan crests, tartan scarves, ties, and ceremonial items crafted for descendants across North America and Ireland.
- 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
McLaughlin 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 McLaughlin Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the McLaughlin clan faced Anglo-Norman invasions while maintaining their Ulster strongholds through strategic alliances and fierce resistance. Notable clan members included Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, who served as the last native High King of Ireland before Norman conquest. The family established multiple cadet branches throughout Ulster, with McLaughlin chiefs ruling from Aileach fortress and controlling lucrative trade routes between Ireland and Scotland. Despite Norman pressure, the clan preserved their Gaelic laws, customs, and territorial authority.
Where does the name McLaughlin come from?
McLaughlin derives from Gaelic 'Mac Lochlainn' meaning 'son of Lochlann' or 'son of the Viking land.' The name originates from the ancient O'Lochlainn dynasty of Ulster, Ireland, where the clan ruled as High Kings of Ireland. This patronymic surname reflects the Celtic tradition of honoring Norse-Gaelic ancestry, with Lochlann referring to the land of the Vikings or Norway in medieval Irish literature.
The 16th and 17th centuries brought English plantation policies that dramatically altered McLaughlin fortunes in Ulster. Many clan members faced land confiscation during the Plantation of Ulster, forcing widespread emigration to Scotland and North America. Sir Hugh McLaughlin of Inishowen led resistance efforts during the Nine Years' War, supporting Hugh O'Neill against English forces. Following defeat at Kinsale in 1601, numerous McLaughlins fled to France, Spain, and the American colonies, establishing the clan's global diaspora while maintaining their proud Celtic heritage.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, McLaughlins embraced new opportunities across the expanding British Empire while preserving their Irish identity. Clan members became prominent settlers in Pennsylvania, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, establishing McLaughlin communities throughout North America. The family produced distinguished military officers, politicians, and entrepreneurs, including Colonel John McLaughlin who founded Oregon's provisional government. In Ireland, McLaughlins adapted to penal laws and land restrictions, many becoming successful merchants, doctors, and educators despite religious persecution.
The McLaughlin tartan weaves together ancient Celtic nobility, from Ulster lordships to New World pioneering, in distinctive patterns worn with enduring Irish pride.
Featured Collections
Craftsmanship defined by tradition, designed for the modern era.
Quick View
Featured Item
Men's Highland Wear
From $120.00
