Armstrong
Armstrong Tartan Collection
Celebrate the most feared riding clan of the Borders with the Armstrong collection — reivers of Liddesdale and the Debatable Land, of Gilnockie Tower and the moon, whose defiant motto rings out, Invictus Maneo.
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About the Armstrong Tartan
The Armstrong tartan belongs to one of the most powerful and feared families of the Anglo-Scottish Borders. From their heartland in Liddesdale, Eskdale and Annandale — and the lawless "Debatable Land" between the rivers Esk and Sark — the Armstrongs ruled as Border reivers who could once put three thousand horsemen in the saddle. An armigerous clan today, their tartan carries the dark, dramatic character of the reiving frontier.
Whether you bear the Armstrong name, descend from the Borders, or simply admire a clan with a fierce and storied past, this collection brings the Armstrong tartan into wearable apparel, everyday accessories, home decor and meaningful heritage gifts.
Armstrong Tartan Pattern & Colours
The Armstrong tartan is a bold, dark sett of deep green and black with a fine white overcheck — sometimes lifted by a thin blue line. Designed for the clan in the 19th century and popularised through the Vestiarium Scoticum, its sombre, high-contrast palette suits the moorland reiving country from which the family rose.
Who Is This Collection For?
The Armstrong tartan collection is a meaningful choice for the Armstrong family and its septs — including Fairbairn, Crozier and Nixon — for descendants of the Scottish Borders and Ulster, and for anyone drawn to the legend of the Border reivers.
- Armstrong family members
- Fairbairn & Crozier septs
- Scottish Borders roots
- Clan gatherings & Common Ridings
- Birthday & Christmas gifts
- Everyday tartan style
Armstrong Clan Heritage
By legend the first Armstrong was an armour-bearer who lifted his unhorsed king back into the saddle with one arm and was rewarded with lands in the Borders and the name "Armstrong." Adam Armstrong appears on record in 1235, and from Mangerton in Liddesdale the clan grew into the most dangerous reiving family on the frontier. Their most famous chief, Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, was hanged with his men by James V at Carlenrig in 1530 after the king lured him to a meeting under a false promise of safety.
The crest, an armoured arm, and the motto Invictus Maneo — "I remain unvanquished" — capture the clan's unbroken spirit, even after the Union of the Crowns in 1603 ended the reiving age and scattered the family to Ulster and beyond. The name reached its greatest height in 1969, when Neil Armstrong, of Border-Armstrong descent, became the first man to walk on the Moon — later visiting Langholm, where he was made a Freeman.
Armstrong Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Armstrong tartan, who can wear it, and why Armstrong products make meaningful Scottish heritage gifts.
What is the Armstrong tartan?
It is the clan tartan of Clan Armstrong, a dark sett of green and black with a fine white overcheck, designed for the clan in the 19th century and popularised through the Vestiarium Scoticum.
Who can wear the Armstrong tartan?
Anyone can wear it. It is especially meaningful for those of the Armstrong name and its septs — such as Fairbairn, Crozier and Nixon — or with Scottish Borders ancestry.
Where does the Armstrong name come from?
By tradition, from an armour-bearer's feat of strength in lifting his king onto a horse. The clan's heartland was Liddesdale and the Debatable Land of the Anglo-Scottish Borders.
What does the motto "Invictus Maneo" mean?
It means "I remain unvanquished" — a fitting motto for the Border reivers, paired with a crest of an armoured arm.
Who was Johnnie Armstrong?
Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie was the clan's most famous reiver chief, hanged with his men by James V at Carlenrig in 1530 after being lured to a meeting under a false promise of safety.
Is Armstrong tartan a good gift?
Yes. Armstrong products make thoughtful gifts for family members, clan gatherings, Common Ridings, birthdays, Christmas and Scottish heritage celebrations.
Celebrate Your Armstrong Heritage in Style
Discover Armstrong tartan apparel, accessories and meaningful Scottish-inspired gifts that honour Liddesdale, Gilnockie Tower and the clan's unvanquished motto, Invictus Maneo.
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