The McHardy Family of Corryhoul Website
Without going into the definition of what constitutes a clan, or a family I have marked where we come from on a Scottish Clan map, that is the western highlands of Aberdeenshire. The history of much of what we know as tartan is an invention of the 19th Century. You will note the claims made on the "More Legends and Writings on the Surname" webpage as to the origins of the existing McHardy Tartan. Suffice to say myself and my two brothers each have a kilt in the Ancient form of the most common weave. For anyone in the USA reading this remember that plaid, or "a" plaid is an item of clothing made from tartan cloth, not the cloth itself. You can see my eldest brother in his kilt on the page "Photographs - Other family members".
This page may take a little time to open so why not open another browser on your PC while waiting.
Click on the hyperlinks below to go to the following on this page :-
Here is a clan map of North East Scotland. I have marked the area where the McHardy surname fits in.
Clan Map provided by John Suffill (john@culloden.demon.co.uk) and reworked by myself.
Here is the most commonly seen McHardy tartan in it's Ancient dye form. If anything the PC displays the colours as a little deep. This is what my kilt is made from. This tartan is recorded in a 1906 volume on the subject. The Modern version of the tartan is also relatively easy to get hold of. I recently had a bow tie and a cumberbund made in that form. I hope this prompts you to rush out and have a kilt, or kilted skirt made for yourself.
Below is another with a smaller check. I have never seen this one in use myself. Anyone out there use it ?
The one below is a mystery to me as I have never come across it. I made contact with various people including the individual who had recorded it in an attempt to find it's origin. Unfortunately the person concerned was unable to tell me where he had come across it or what made him think it was a McHardy tartan. So if anyone reading this can help please come forward.
