Bethune
Bethune Tartan Collection
Honour a name of church and crown with the Bethune collection — the family of Balfour in Fife, of Flemish and Norman descent, who gave Scotland cardinals and archbishops, under the gracious motto Debonnaire.
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About the Bethune Tartan
The Bethunes of Balfour are an ancient Scottish family who took their name from the town of Béthune in Flanders, coming to Scotland in the wake of the Norman settlement under David I. From about 1375 the family were lairds of Balfour in the Fife parish of Markinch, and over five centuries they gave Scotland clerics, knights and statesmen. The name was long pronounced and spelled "Beaton," and as an armigerous family the Bethunes traditionally wear the MacBeth tartan.
This collection celebrates the Bethune name and its distinguished heritage of church and state, bringing the MacBeth tartan into apparel, accessories, home decor and heritage gifts for those who carry the name or trace their line to Balfour and the kingdom of Fife.
Bethune & MacBeth Tartan Colours
Worn as the MacBeth sett, the collection draws on a rich, colourful tartan of blue and green crossed with black and lifted by red, yellow and white. It is a vivid pattern whose name echoes the old Beaton form of Bethune, fitting for a family woven through the story of medieval Scotland.
Who Is This Collection For?
The Bethune collection is a meaningful choice for the Bethune and Beaton family of Fife and Angus, descendants of the Balfour line, lovers of Scotland's church history, and anyone drawn to a name of grace, learning and high office.
- Bethune & Beaton family
- Fife & Angus roots
- Balfour line descendants
- Family gatherings
- Birthday & holiday gifts
- Everyday tartan style
Bethune Family Heritage
The first clear ancestor is Sir Alexander de Bethune, who sat in the Parliament of Scotland at Cambuskenneth in 1314 and died in 1332 fighting for the Bruce cause against the Balliol rebels at Dupplin Moor. His son Robert married Janet, heiress of Balfour, around 1345, and from that marriage the castle and lands of Balfour descended in the family until 1719. Junior branches sprang up at Creich, Balfarg, Bandon and Blebo across Fife.
The Bethunes rose to the heights of the medieval Church: James Bethune was Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellor of Scotland, and his nephew, Cardinal David Bethune (Beaton), Archbishop of St Andrews, was among the most powerful figures of his age before his murder in 1546. Mary Beaton, one of the "four Maries" of Mary, Queen of Scots, was of this family. The crest, an otter's head, and the motto Debonnaire — "gracious" — reflect the family's courtly standing. The island Beaton physicians are a separate, unrelated kindred.
Bethune Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Bethune name, the tartan its members wear, and why Bethune products make meaningful Scottish heritage gifts.
Does Bethune have its own tartan?
There is no separate registered Bethune tartan, so as an armigerous family the Bethunes traditionally wear the MacBeth tartan, whose name echoes the old Beaton form of Bethune.
Where does the Bethune name come from?
From the town of Béthune in Flanders. The family came to Scotland under David I and became lairds of Balfour in Fife from about 1375.
Are Bethune and Beaton the same name?
Yes, for this Fife family. The name was long pronounced and spelled "Beaton," with the French spelling Bethune revived from about 1560.
Are the Bethunes of Balfour the same as the Beaton physicians?
No. The Bethunes of Balfour in Fife are a separate family from the Beaton medical kindred of the Isles, though the names are often confused.
What does the motto "Debonnaire" mean?
Debonnaire is old French for "gracious" or "kindly." It is paired with a crest of an otter's head.
Is Bethune tartan a good gift?
Yes. MacBeth-tartan Bethune products make a meaningful gift for the Bethune and Beaton family and for those with Fife or Angus heritage.
Carry the Bethune Name with Pride
Discover MacBeth tartan apparel, accessories and gifts for the Bethune family — honouring Balfour in Fife and a name woven through Scotland's church and crown.
View Bethune Tartan Products