The MacThomas clan tartan represents one of Scotland's distinguished Highland families, whose legacy spans from medieval Perthshire origins through centuries of clan warfare, emigration, and cultural preservation across North America and beyond.
Clan Motto
Deo Juvante Invidiam Superabo (God Help Overcome Envy)
Heritage & Identity
Who Wears MacThomas Tartan?
Worn by MacThomas descendants worldwide, sept families including Thomas, Thomson, MacTavish variants, Highland regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.
Associated Names
MacThomas
McThomas
Thomas
Thomson
Thomason
MacTavish
Thom
Thoms
MacCombie
MacComb
Combie
Tavish
Tammas
Tamson
MacTammie
Tommie
MacComish
Military Heritage
Associated Regiments
MacThomas warriors served with distinction in Highland regiments and Scottish battalions, particularly excelling in colonial campaigns and frontier service throughout the British Empire's expansion into North America.
42nd Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch)
78th Highland Regiment (Fraser Highlanders)
79th Cameron Highlanders
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
Nova Scotia Highlanders (Canada)
Shop MacThomas Tartan Products
Discover authentic MacThomas clan products including traditional Highland kilts, clan crest accessories, tartan scarves, ceremonial dirks, and heritage items crafted for descendants across North America and Britain.
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MacThomas 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 MacThomas Story
Four centuries of history woven into every thread
Clan Origins
The MacThomas clan traces its origins to Glenshee in Perthshire, where Thomas, a Celtic chieftain's son, established the family seat in the 13th century. Early clan records show MacThomas holdings in the remote Highland glens, where they developed as a small but fiercely independent sept. The family initially allied with larger clans for protection while maintaining their distinct identity and territorial claims. Archaeological evidence suggests MacThomas settlements existed along ancient cattle-driving routes through the Grampian mountains, positioning them strategically for Highland commerce and clan warfare activities.
Clan Warriors
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the MacThomas clan navigated Scotland's turbulent clan politics through strategic alliances with neighboring Highland families. Clan members participated in Border conflicts and inter-clan warfare while gradually expanding their influence beyond Perthshire. The MacThomas developed a reputation as skilled warriors and cattle drovers, essential occupations in medieval Highland society. Their remote glen location provided natural defenses but also isolated them from major political developments, fostering a strong sense of clan independence and traditional Highland cultural practices that persisted longer than in more accessible regions.
Where does the name MacThomas come from?
MacThomas derives from Gaelic 'Mac Tamhais' meaning 'son of Thomas,' originating from the Hebrew name meaning 'twin.' The clan name emerged in medieval Scotland when Thomas, son of a Celtic chief in Glenshee, Perthshire, established the family line. This patronymic surname reflects Highland naming traditions where 'Mac' indicated patrilineal descent, marking the MacThomas as descendants of the original Thomas who founded their Perthshire stronghold.
Clan Struggles
The 17th century brought significant challenges as MacThomas clan members faced religious conflicts and changing Highland social structures. Many clan families supported the Jacobite cause, participating in various uprisings against Hanoverian rule while maintaining their Presbyterian faith and Highland traditions. The clan produced notable warriors who served in Highland regiments during this period, establishing military traditions that would continue for generations. Economic pressures from agricultural changes and clan warfare losses forced some MacThomas families to seek opportunities beyond their ancestral glens, beginning early migration patterns to Lowland Scotland and Ulster.
Clan Diaspora
Following the 1745 Jacobite defeat at Culloden, MacThomas clan members faced Highland Clearances and systematic suppression of clan culture. Many families emigrated to North America, establishing MacThomas settlements in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the American colonies. Clan members adapted their Highland skills to frontier life, becoming successful farmers, traders, and military officers in colonial forces. The 19th century saw continued MacThomas emigration to Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants maintained clan connections through Highland societies and cultural organizations while building new lives in expanding frontier territories.
The MacThomas tartan embodies centuries of Highland clan heritage, from Glenshee origins to global diaspora, in distinctive patterns worn by proud descendants worldwide.
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