Clan Buchanan traces its origins to Anselan O Kyan, an Irish prince who received lands on Loch Lomond's eastern shore from Malcolm III around 1010. The clan's documented history begins with Absalon of Buchanan in 1225, followed by Maurice of Buchanan who received a charter from the Earl of Lennox in 1282. The Buchanans established their seat at Buchanan Castle and became hereditary keepers of the strategic island fortress of Clarinch on Loch Lomond. Their clan motto 'Clarior Hinc Honos' meaning 'Brighter Hence the Honor' reflects their proud Highland heritage. Early clan members served as witnesses to royal charters and held positions of trust within the ancient Kingdom of Scotland, demonstrating their significance among Scottish nobility.
Scottish Clans
Buchanan Tartans & Clan
The Buchanan clan tartan represents one of Scotland's most ancient families, tracing their lineage to the 13th century along Loch Lomond's eastern shores. Clan Buchanan's distinctive patterns honor centuries of Highland tradition.
Clan Motto
Clarior hinc honos
(Henceforth forward the honour shall grow ever brighter)
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears Buchanan Tartan?
Worn by Buchanan descendants globally, sept families including MacAuslan, MacColman, Dove, and Spittal bearers, Highland regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts throughout America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
MacAuslan
MacColman
MacCormack
MacGreusich
MacKieson
MacMaurice
MacWattie
Dove
Gibb
Gibson
Harper
Lennie
Lenny
MacAslan
MacCalman
MacGeorge
MacGibbon
MacGilbert
MacGubbin
MacMaster
MacQuattie
MacWalter
Morris
Morrison
Richardson
Risk
Rusk
Spittal
Walter
Walters
Watson
Watt
Watters
Weir
Zuill
Military Heritage
Associated Regiments
Buchanan warriors served with valor in Highland regiments, particularly the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Black Watch, and Canadian Highland units, distinguishing themselves in Jacobite campaigns and Empire service.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Scotland)
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
Highland Light Infantry (Scotland)
48th Highlanders of Canada (Canada)
Cape Breton Highlanders (Canada)
Toronto Scottish Regiment (Canada)
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Buchanan 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 Buchanan Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
During the Wars of Scottish Independence, the Buchanans supported Robert the Bruce, with Sir Maurice Buchanan fighting at Bannockburn in 1314. The clan's loyalty to Scottish independence was rewarded with expanded lands and privileges. Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, successive Buchanan chiefs strengthened their position through strategic marriages with neighboring clans including the MacGregors and Lennox family. The clan faced internal challenges during the 16th century when George Buchanan, the renowned scholar and tutor to James VI, brought international fame to the family name. However, clan unity was tested by religious reformation conflicts and feuds with surrounding Highland clans, particularly disputes over territorial boundaries along Loch Lomond's contested shores.
Where does the name Buchanan come from?
Buchanan derives from Gaelic 'Both Chanain' meaning 'house of the canon' or 'seat of the cleric,' originating from the ancient lands of Buchanan on Loch Lomond's eastern shore. The name reflects the clan's early connection to ecclesiastical holdings granted by the Earls of Lennox. This territorial surname established the family as one of Scotland's oldest clans, with their ancestral seat at Buchanan Castle in Stirlingshire, where they held lands for over 500 years.
The 17th century brought devastating challenges to Clan Buchanan during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Chief John Buchanan supported King Charles I, leading to clan persecution under Cromwell's forces. The family's fortunes declined further when debts forced the sale of their ancestral lands to the Marquess of Montrose in 1682, ending nearly 500 years of Buchanan ownership. Despite losing their territorial base, clan members maintained their Highland traditions and many emigrated to Ireland and North America. Buchanans participated in Jacobite uprisings, with some fighting at Culloden in 1746. The clan's diaspora spread throughout the expanding British Empire, with Buchanan settlers establishing communities in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nova Scotia, and beyond, carrying their Highland heritage to new frontiers.
Following the Highland Clearances, Buchanan emigrants established thriving communities across North America, particularly in Canada's Maritime provinces and the American frontier territories. Notable clan members included James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States (1857-1861), demonstrating the family's continued influence in international affairs. Throughout the 19th century, Buchanans served with distinction in Highland regiments, colonial administrations, and pioneering ventures. The clan produced successful merchants, educators, and military officers who maintained connections to their Scottish heritage while adapting to new homelands. Modern clan societies emerged in the 20th century, uniting Buchanan descendants worldwide and reviving interest in traditional Highland culture, tartan patterns, and ancestral genealogies across the global Scottish diaspora.
The Buchanan tartan embodies the heritage of Clan Buchanan, 'The Clarion of the North,' from Loch Lomond's shores to battlefields across Scotland, worn with Highland pride.
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