The Bell clan tartan represents one of Scotland's most widespread Border families, whose legacy extends from medieval abbey bell-ringers to distinguished settlers across America, Canada, and beyond in the Scottish diaspora.
Clan Motto
I Beare the Bell
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears Bell Tartan?
Worn by Bell descendants worldwide, sept families including Belson, Bellenden, and MacMillan connections, Border regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
Belson
Bellenden
Bel
Belle
Bells
MacBell
MacMillan
Bellis
Bellison
Bellman
Bellie
Bellamy
Beal
Beall
Beale
Beel
Beil
Beill
Bile
Bill
Bills
Military Heritage
Associated Regiments
Bell warriors served with distinction in Border regiments, Lowland forces, and colonial units, particularly excelling in North American frontier service and military settlements throughout Canada and the American colonies.
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Black Watch (Canada)
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (Canada)
Nova Scotia Highlanders (Canada)
42nd Royal Highland Regiment
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Discover authentic Bell clan products including traditional kilts, Border dress accessories, clan badges, tartan scarves, ties, and ceremonial items crafted for descendants across North America and Scotland.
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 Bell Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
The Bell clan traces its origins to the medieval Scottish Borders, where early family members served as bell-ringers and officials at great abbeys including Melrose and Dryburgh. First documented in 12th-century abbey records, the Bells established themselves throughout Dumfriesshire, Roxburghshire, and the wider Border region. The family gained prominence through church service and land tenure, with successive generations expanding their influence across southern Scotland. Early Bells demonstrated loyalty to Scottish independence during the Wars of Independence, with clan members supporting Robert the Bruce and participating in Border warfare against English incursions into their ancestral lands.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Bell clan became prominent Border reivers, participating in the fierce raids and conflicts that defined life along the Anglo-Scottish frontier. Notable Bell families established themselves as leaders in Annandale and Liddesdale, with their prowess in Border warfare earning both respect and notoriety. The clan weathered the turbulent reiver period while maintaining extensive kinship networks throughout the Borders. Bells distinguished themselves as skilled horsemen and fighters, with their reputation spreading beyond Scotland's borders as formidable warriors who defended their territories against English raids and rival Scottish clans.
Where does the name Bell come from?
Bell derives from the occupational surname meaning 'bell-ringer' or 'bell-maker,' originating from medieval church and abbey positions in the Scottish Borders. The name also stems from the Norman-French 'bel' meaning 'beautiful' or 'fair.' Early Bell families served as abbey officials and bell-ringers at religious houses including Melrose and Dryburgh Abbeys, establishing the name throughout the Border regions before spreading across Scotland and beyond.
The 17th and 18th centuries marked significant expansion for the Bell clan, with family members emigrating to Ireland during the Plantation of Ulster and later to North America. Scots-Irish Bells became prominent settlers in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas, establishing Bell communities that would spread westward across the American frontier. Meanwhile, Scottish Bells continued their Border traditions while adapting to changing times. The clan produced notable ministers, merchants, and military officers who served in colonial conflicts and the American Revolution, with many Bell descendants becoming founding families in early American settlements.
Throughout the 19th century, Bells embraced new opportunities across the expanding British Empire and American frontier. Clan members served as officers in Highland and Lowland regiments, pioneered settlements in Canada's Maritime Provinces, and established Bell communities across the American West. The family produced distinguished educators, including university professors and school founders, while maintaining their Border heritage. In Scotland, Bells adapted to industrial changes while preserving clan traditions. The name spread globally through military service, trade, and emigration, establishing Bell descendants in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the British colonial territories.
The Bell clan tartan echoes centuries of Scottish heritage, from ancient Border lands to global diaspora, worn by descendants who ring true to Highland tradition.
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