Balfour
Balfour Tartan Collection
Celebrate a great name of Fife with the Balfour collection — the family of the strath of the Orr, hereditary sheriffs of Fife from Burleigh to Orkney, whose crest and watchword press ever Forward.
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About the Balfour Tartan
Clan Balfour takes its name from the barony of Balfour in the parish of Markinch in Fife, where the rivers Ore and Leven meet — the old "Bal-orr," the town at the foot of the Orr. Long the hereditary sheriffs of Fife, the Balfours grew into one of the kingdom's great families, with no fewer than thirteen landed branches in the county, from Burleigh and Denmylne to Balbirnie, and further lines reaching to Orkney. The Balfour tartan is a modern design of the 1980s.
Whether you bear the Balfour name, descend from Fife or Orkney, or simply admire a clan deep-rooted in Scottish history, this collection brings the Balfour tartan into wearable apparel, everyday accessories, home decor and meaningful heritage gifts.
Balfour Tartan Pattern & Colours
The Balfour tartan is a fresh, balanced sett of blue and green lifted by yellow, red and brown — colours that echo the rolling farmland and waters of Fife. Blue and green for the landscape, gold for the fields, and warm earth tones ground a pattern fitting for a family whose name itself means a farm-town by the river.
Who Is This Collection For?
The Balfour tartan collection is a meaningful choice for the Balfour family and its many branches, descendants of Fife and Orkney, and anyone drawn to a clan that gave Scotland sheriffs, scholars, soldiers and a Prime Minister.
- Balfour family members
- Burleigh, Denmylne & Balbirnie branches
- Fife & Orkney roots
- Clan gatherings
- Birthday & Christmas gifts
- Everyday tartan style
Balfour Clan Heritage
The Balfours appear on record from the 13th century, with Sir Michael de Balfour witnessing charters in Fife in the reign of Alexander III, and the family supported Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Independence. By tradition the lands of the strath of the Orr were granted to an ancestor named Siward, and the family's otter-head arms and the motto "Forward" are linked to their guardianship of the Isle of May at the mouth of the Firth of Forth. The Balfours of Burleigh rose to a peerage, while the Orkney branch built Noltland Castle.
The family produced many notable figures: Sir James Balfour of Denmilne, Lord Lyon King of Arms and chronicler of Scotland; Sir Andrew Balfour, founder of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden; and, in modern times, Arthur James Balfour, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The crest, an armoured arm holding a baton, and the brisk motto Forward, capture the forward-pressing spirit of this great Fife family.
Balfour Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Balfour tartan, who can wear it, and why Balfour products make meaningful Scottish heritage gifts.
What is the Balfour tartan?
It is the clan tartan of Clan Balfour, a modern design of the 1980s in blue and green with yellow, red and brown — colours echoing the farmland and waters of Fife.
Who can wear the Balfour tartan?
Anyone can wear it. It is especially meaningful for those of the Balfour name and its branches, and for anyone with Fife or Orkney ancestry.
Where does the Balfour name come from?
From the barony of Balfour in Markinch, Fife, where the Ore and Leven meet — the old "Bal-orr," usually read as the town at the foot of the Orr or the "cold farm."
What does the motto "Forward" mean?
The motto is simply Forward (older "Fordward"), linked by tradition to the family's guardianship of the Isle of May. The crest is an armoured arm holding a baton.
Are the Balfours connected to a Prime Minister?
Yes. Arthur James Balfour, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the early 20th century, came from this great Fife family.
Is Balfour tartan a good gift?
Yes. Balfour products make thoughtful gifts for family members, clan gatherings, birthdays, Christmas and Scottish heritage celebrations, especially for those with Fife roots.
Celebrate Your Balfour Heritage in Style
Discover Balfour tartan apparel, accessories and meaningful Scottish-inspired gifts that honour the strath of the Orr, the sheriffs of Fife and the clan's brisk motto, Forward.
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