Everything in Trotter tartan, in one place: kilts and full Highland outfits, cloth by the metre, plus scarves, ties, sashes and gift ideas. Pick the pieces you want and check out in minutes.
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Trotter Accessories — Scarves, Ties & Sashes
Round things off with Trotter tartan extras — scarves, ties, sashes, flashes and small gifts — kept in stock where possible for fast dispatch.
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Trotter Tartan Kilts & Outfit Packages
Our Trotter kilts are made to your exact size in 5-yard and 8-yard heavyweight cloth. Build a complete outfit with a Prince Charlie or tweed jacket, sporran and accessories.
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Trotter Tartan Fabric for Makers
Pick up Trotter tartan fabric by the length for sewing, upholstery or accessories. Weights and swatches are listed so you can match your project exactly.
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Custom Trotter Orders & Delivery
Orders are produced to measure and dispatched globally. For weddings, gatherings or band orders in Trotter tartan, get in touch for group pricing and timing.
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Pick a Colourway for Trotter Tartan
Colourways describe the dye, not the age: Modern is vivid, Ancient is mellow, Weathered is muted and Dress is the brighter formal version. All are available for Trotter tartan.
Clan Motto
Spero Meliora
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears Trotter Tartan Tartan?
Worn by Trotter descendants worldwide, sept families including Trottar and Trottier bearers, Border regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
Trottar
Trottier
Trotters
Trotar
Troiter
MacTrotter
Troutair
Troutar
Military Heritage
Associated Regiments
Trotter warriors served with distinction in Border regiments, Canadian militia forces, and British Army units, excelling in North American campaigns, colonial defense, and frontier service throughout the Empire.
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Canadian Mounted Rifles (Canada)
Nova Scotia Fencibles (Canada)
42nd Highland Regiment
Shop Trotter Tartan Products
Discover authentic Trotter clan products including traditional kilts, Border dress accessories, clan badges, tartan scarves, neckties, and ceremonial items crafted for descendants across North America and Britain.
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Associated Tartans
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Trotter Tartan 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.
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 Trotter Tartan Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
The Trotter clan established its Border heritage in the Scottish Borders by the 13th century, where they became prominent landholders and defenders of the frontier. Early clan records show Trotters serving as mounted messengers and officials for Border lords, demonstrating crucial skills in horsemanship and diplomacy. The family's strategic position along the Anglo-Scottish border made them vital intermediaries during centuries of cross-border conflict. Trotter chiefs wielded significant influence in Border politics, maintaining extensive lands in Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire while developing their distinctive clan identity rooted in Border traditions and mounted warfare.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, Trotter clan members expanded their influence throughout the Scottish Borders through strategic marriages and military service. Notable Trotters included those who served Scottish kings as trusted couriers and diplomatic agents, while other branches established themselves as substantial landowners in the Cheviot Hills. The clan weathered the Wars of Scottish Independence while maintaining loyalty to Scottish sovereignty and Border customs. Trotter warriors proved their valor in Border raids and skirmishes against English forces, developing reputations as skilled horsemen and fierce defenders of Scottish independence.
Where does the name Trotter Tartan come from?
Trotter derives from the Old French 'trotere,' meaning 'messenger' or 'one who trots,' indicating a mounted courier or herald. The name entered Scotland through Norman-French influence in the Borders, where Trotters became established landholders by the 13th century. This occupational surname reflects the family's historical role as trusted messengers and mounted officials serving Border lords and Scottish nobility.
The 16th and 17th centuries brought Trotter military distinction during the Anglo-Scottish Border conflicts and religious upheavals of the Reformation. Many Trotters fought in Border campaigns while others served as officers in Scottish regiments during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Following union with England, Trotter families began emigrating to North America, establishing communities in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nova Scotia, and Upper Canada. The clan's expertise in frontier warfare and horsemanship proved invaluable in colonial settlements, where Trotters became respected farmers, militia officers, and civic leaders in their new communities.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Trotters distinguished themselves in military service, agriculture, and commerce across the expanding British Empire. Clan members served with honor in Border regiments during the Napoleonic Wars, American Revolutionary War, and Canadian frontier conflicts. Trotter emigrants continued establishing successful communities throughout North America, with notable concentrations in the Maritime Provinces, Ontario, and the American South. The family produced distinguished farmers, merchants, and military officers who helped shape colonial development while maintaining their Scottish Border heritage and Presbyterian faith traditions.
The Trotter tartan embodies centuries of Border heritage, from ancient Scottish roots to global diaspora, worn proudly by descendants across America, Canada, and Britain.
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