05/10/2026
TARTAN OF THE WEEK – MATHESON ANCIENT HUNTING
🟢🔵⚫️
This week we’re featuring the handsome Clan Matheson Ancient Hunting tartan — a softer, earthy variation of the traditional Matheson hunting sett.
🏴The Matheson story
Clan Matheson has its historic heartland in Wester Ross, particularly around Lochalsh, Lochcarron and Kintail.
The Gaelic name is Clann Mhathain, and the name Matheson is traditionally derived from MacMathan — meaning “son of the bear.” The Clan Matheson Society traces the history of its chiefs back almost 800 years, with the earliest chief listed from around 1225.
🧵 What is a Hunting tartan?
A Hunting tartan is generally a variation designed around darker, more natural colours — especially greens, blues and browns. Traditionally, these shades were considered more suitable for the countryside than the brighter reds sometimes found in a clan’s main tartan.
Not every clan has a separate Hunting tartan, particularly where its usual tartan is already dominated by greens or darker shades.
The Matheson Hunting tartan is recognised as a Clan/Family tartan by the Scottish Register of Tartans. There are several historic Matheson hunting setts recorded, including one associated with the Highland Society of London dating to 1810.
🌿 And what does “Ancient” mean?
Despite the name, Ancient does not necessarily mean that the tartan itself is older.
Instead, “Ancient” usually describes the colour palette. Ancient colourways use softer shades intended to evoke the appearance of the natural dyes used before modern chemical dyes became common — lighter blues, softer greens and warmer, less intense colours. The underlying tartan pattern, or sett, remains essentially the same.
That combination gives Matheson Ancient Hunting its wonderfully traditional, understated appearance.
💡 Did you know?
The Clan Matheson motto is:
“Fac et Spera” — “Do and Hope.”
The clan crest and arms also retain the Matheson connection with the bear, reflecting the traditional meaning of the clan name.
Do you have Matheson ancestry, or perhaps a Mathieson, MacMathan or related name somewhere in your family tree? And what do you prefer — the softer colours of an Ancient tartan or the deeper shades of a Modern one?
Let us know in the comments! 👇
💜 Scottish Society of New Zealand
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