Armstrong Tartans & Clan Information

Scottish Clans

Armstrong Tartans & Clan

The Armstrong tartan embodies the fierce Border Reiver spirit, from Liddesdale strongholds to global military service, in bold patterns worn by descendants worldwide.

Clan Motto

Invictus Maneo
(I remain unvanquished)

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears Armstrong Tartan?

Worn by Armstrong descendants globally, Border families including Strongarm and Strongitharm bearers, military veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts throughout North America and Britain.

Associated Names

Armstrang

Armestrange

Strongarm

Strongitharm

Armystrong

Armstrung

Armystrang

Armestrang

MacArmstrong

Armstrone

Armystrung

Armestrone

Stronge

Armstraing

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Armstrong warriors served in Border cavalry units, British Army regiments, and colonial forces, excelling in frontier warfare from the Scottish Borders to American and Canadian military campaigns throughout history.

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Black Watch (Canada)

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (Canada)

42nd Foot Royal Highland Regiment

Border Regiment

Scots Guards

Shop Armstrong Tartan Products

Explore authentic Armstrong clan merchandise including traditional kilts, Border Reiver accessories, clan badges, tartan ties, ceremonial sashes, and heritage items for descendants across North America.

Armstrong 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 Armstrong Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Border Power

The Armstrong clan emerged as the most powerful Border Reiver family in the Debatable Lands between England and Scotland during the 14th century. Founded by Siward Beorn, whose legendary strength earned royal favor, the Armstrongs established their stronghold in Liddesdale and controlled vast territories along the Anglo-Scottish border. Their strategic position made them kingmakers during Border conflicts, commanding over 3,000 mounted warriors at their peak. The clan's fierce independence and military prowess earned respect and fear throughout the borderlands, making them virtually autonomous rulers of their domain.

Reiving Power & Warfare

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Armstrongs perfected the art of Border warfare, conducting lightning raids deep into England and Scotland alike. Led by chiefs like Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, they operated from impregnable tower houses including Mangerton, Hollows, and Whithaugh. The clan developed sophisticated reiving tactics, using superior horsemanship and intimate knowledge of Border terrain to evade capture. Their reputation grew so formidable that both English and Scottish authorities struggled to control them, leading to numerous truces and temporary alliances that demonstrated Armstrong political influence across the borderlands.

Where does the name Armstrong come from?

Armstrong derives from the legendary strength of an ancestral warrior who rescued a Scottish king by lifting him onto his horse with one powerful arm. This heroic act earned the family name 'Armstrong' and royal favor. The clan motto 'Invictus maneo' means 'I remain unvanquished,' reflecting their Border Reiver reputation for fierce independence and warrior prowess that dominated the Anglo-Scottish borderlands for generations.

Decline & Diaspora

The clan's power reached its zenith under Johnnie Armstrong, whose 1530 execution by James V marked the beginning of Armstrong decline. Despite this setback, the family continued their Border traditions until the 1603 Union of Crowns ended the reiving era. Many Armstrongs then emigrated to Ulster during the Plantation, establishing new strongholds in County Fermanagh and Tyrone. Others scattered throughout Scotland, with branches settling in Dumfriesshire, Roxburghshire, and the Highlands. The clan's military traditions persisted as members joined regular army regiments, carrying their warrior heritage into formal military service across the expanding British Empire.

Global Legacy

Following the Union of Crowns, dispersed Armstrong families embraced new opportunities across the British Empire and North America. Clan members became prominent in American frontier expansion, with notable figures like Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, carrying the family name to unprecedented heights. In Canada, Armstrongs helped establish border communities and served in colonial militias. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the clan contributed military leaders, explorers, and pioneers who maintained their ancestral courage while building new lives far from the Scottish Borders, yet always remembering their reiving heritage.

The Armstrong clan tartan represents Scotland's most powerful Border Reiver family, whose legendary strength and warfare prowess dominated the Anglo-Scottish borderlands for centuries, creating a lasting legacy across America, Canada, and Britain.

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