Dundas
Dundas Tartan Collection
Celebrate a clan of the south fort with the Dundas collection — the family of Dundas Castle by the Firth of Forth, statesmen and judges who all but ruled Scotland, under the spirited motto Essayez, "Try."
- Featured
- Most relevant
- Best selling
- Alphabetically, A-Z
- Alphabetically, Z-A
- Price, low to high
- Price, high to low
- Date, old to new
- Date, new to old
About the Dundas Tartan
Clan Dundas takes its name from the lands of Dundas near South Queensferry in West Lothian, from the Gaelic Dùn Deas, "south fort." The family descends from Uthred, who received the lands from Waldeve, son of Gospatric, Earl of Dunbar, in the 12th century. Seated for centuries at Dundas Castle above the Firth of Forth, and a clan with its own chief, Dundas of Dundas, the Dundases have their own distinctive tartan.
Whether you bear the Dundas name, descend from West Lothian, or simply admire a clan that shaped the law and politics of a nation, this collection brings the Dundas tartan into wearable apparel, everyday accessories, home decor and meaningful heritage gifts.
Dundas Tartan Pattern & Colours
The Dundas tartan, drawn from the Vestiarium Scoticum of 1842, is a striking sett of blue, green and black lifted by bold lines of red — dignified, handsome colours fitting for an old Lowland clan seated by the Forth, prominent in the law and government of Scotland for centuries.
Who Is This Collection For?
The Dundas tartan collection is a meaningful choice for the Dundas family, descendants of West Lothian and the Forth, those with Arniston or Melville connections, and anyone drawn to a clan at the heart of Scotland's public life.
- Dundas family members
- West Lothian & Forth roots
- Arniston & Melville branches
- Clan gatherings
- Birthday & Christmas gifts
- Everyday tartan style
Dundas Clan Heritage
Saer de Dundas set his name to the Ragman Roll in 1296, and his son Sir Hugh de Dundas followed Sir William Wallace in the Wars of Independence; Sir George Dundas fell at the Battle of Dupplin in 1332. James Dundas built the great Dundas Castle by the Firth of Forth in 1424, and James IV granted the family the island of Inchgarvie to guard the shipping of the Forth. From the clan sprang the Dundases of Arniston, who gave Scotland two generations of Lords President of the Court of Session.
The most powerful of the name was Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, who managed Scotland for the Prime Minister William Pitt so completely that he was known as the "Uncrowned King of Scotland"; his statue still stands atop a great column in Edinburgh's St Andrew Square. Under his hand the estates forfeited after the 1745 rising were restored and the ban on tartan lifted. The chiefship rests with Dundas of Dundas; the crest is a lion's head among oak, and the motto Essayez, "try."
Dundas Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Dundas tartan, who can wear it, and why Dundas products make meaningful Scottish heritage gifts.
What is the Dundas tartan?
It is the clan tartan of Clan Dundas, a blue, green and black sett with red, drawn from the Vestiarium Scoticum of 1842.
Who can wear the Dundas tartan?
Anyone can wear it. It is especially meaningful for those of the Dundas name and for anyone with West Lothian ancestry.
Where does the Dundas name come from?
From the lands of Dundas near South Queensferry in West Lothian, from the Gaelic Dùn Deas, "south fort."
Who was the "Uncrowned King of Scotland"?
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, who managed Scottish affairs for Prime Minister William Pitt and wielded vast political power in the late 18th century.
Who is the chief of Clan Dundas?
The chief is Dundas of Dundas, whose family seat was the historic Dundas Castle by the Firth of Forth.
Is Dundas tartan a good gift?
Yes. Dundas products make thoughtful gifts for family members, clan gatherings, birthdays, Christmas and Scottish heritage celebrations.
Celebrate Your Dundas Heritage in Style
Discover Dundas tartan apparel, accessories and meaningful Scottish-inspired gifts that honour Dundas Castle, the Firth of Forth and the spirited motto Essayez.
View Dundas Tartan Products