Douglas
Douglas Tartan Collection
Celebrate the mighty dark stream with the Douglas collection — the great Lowland clan that rivalled kings, whose Good Sir James carried the heart of Bruce to the Holy Land, under the bold motto Jamais Arrière, "Never Behind."
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About the Douglas Tartan
Clan Douglas is one of the most powerful families in Scottish history, taking its name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, from the Gaelic dubh glas, "dark stream." From the 14th century the Douglases grew so mighty that they were said to rival the Stewart kings themselves, splitting into the great houses of the Black Douglases and the Red Douglases. An armigerous clan today, the Douglases have their own distinctive tartan.
Whether you bear the Douglas name, descend from Lanarkshire or the Borders, or simply admire one of Scotland's most storied clans, this collection brings the Douglas tartan into wearable apparel, everyday accessories, home decor and meaningful heritage gifts.
Douglas Tartan Pattern & Colours
The Douglas tartan is a dark and dignified sett of deep green and blue crossed with black and lifted by fine lines of white — understated, practical colours that take their name from the very meaning of Douglas, the "dark stream." Grey variations exist, but the deep green sett remains the best known of the clan's tartans.
Who Is This Collection For?
The Douglas tartan collection is a meaningful choice for the Douglas family and its many septs, including the Mortons, Sandilands and Symingtons, descendants of Lanarkshire and the Borders, and anyone drawn to one of Scotland's greatest clans.
- Douglas family & septs
- Lanarkshire & Border roots
- Morton & Angus branches
- Clan gatherings
- Birthday & Christmas gifts
- Everyday tartan style
Douglas Clan Heritage
The likely founder of the line was Theobald the Fleming, granted lands by the Douglas Water around 1147, and William de Douglas appears in record by 1175. The clan's greatest hero was Sir James "the Good" Douglas — the "Black Douglas" feared by the English — who was knighted on the eve of Bannockburn and, after the king's death, carried the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce on crusade, falling in battle in Spain. For this the chiefs bear a crowned heart in their arms.
The Black Douglases, Earls of Douglas, grew so powerful they threatened the throne, until they fell to the Crown and their kinsmen the Red Douglases, Earls of Angus, at Arkinholm in 1455. From the clan sprang the Earls of Morton, the Marquesses of Queensberry and noble houses in Sweden. The principal Douglas today is the Duke of Hamilton. The crest is a salamander in flames, the war cry "A Douglas! A Douglas!" and the motto Jamais Arrière.
Douglas Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Douglas tartan, who can wear it, and why Douglas products make meaningful Scottish heritage gifts.
What is the Douglas tartan?
It is the clan tartan of Clan Douglas, a dark green and blue sett with black and white, with grey variations — understated colours echoing the "dark stream" of the name.
Who can wear the Douglas tartan?
Anyone can wear it. It is especially meaningful for those of the Douglas name and its septs, and for anyone with Lanarkshire or Border ancestry.
Who was the Black Douglas?
Sir James "the Good" Douglas, the great companion of Robert the Bruce, who carried the king's heart on crusade and was feared by the English as the "Black Douglas."
What is the difference between the Black and Red Douglases?
The Black Douglases were the senior line, Earls of Douglas; the Red Douglases, Earls of Angus, rose after the fall of the Black Douglases in 1455.
Does Clan Douglas have a chief?
Douglas is an armigerous clan; the principal Douglas is the Duke of Hamilton, but the rules of the Lyon Court prevent the hyphenated Douglas-Hamilton name from holding the chiefship.
Is Douglas tartan a good gift?
Yes. Douglas products make thoughtful gifts for family members, clan gatherings, birthdays, Christmas and Scottish heritage celebrations.
Celebrate Your Douglas Heritage in Style
Discover Douglas tartan apparel, accessories and meaningful Scottish-inspired gifts that honour the dark stream, the heart of Bruce and the bold motto Jamais Arrière.
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