Clan MacLeod Society of Canada
Founding Member of CASSOC


MacLeod of Lewis

Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada Tartan

Macleod of Harris

CREST: Bull’s Head

MOTTO: Hold Fast

SEPTS:
Askey, Auley, Beaton, Bethune, Beton, Callum, Caskey, Grimond, Harold, Lewis, MacAllum, Macandie, Maccaskie, Macaskill, MacAulay, McCabe, MacCaig, MacCaskill, MacClure, MacCorkill, MacCorkindale, MacCorkle, MacCrimmon, MacCraig, MacGillechallum, MacHarold, MacKaskill, MacLewis, MacLure, MacRaild, MacWilliam, Malcolmson, Norie, Norrie, Norman, Normand, Tolmie, Williamson

A Short History:
The fascinating origins of the clan can be traced to Leod, who was born about 1200, the son of Olaf the Black, King of Man and the Isles. Leod married the daughter and heiress of MacRaild about the year 1220. Through his son, Tormod, came the MacLeods of Harris, Dunvegan and Glenelg, and through his second son, Torquil, came the MacLeods of Lewis. Throughout the centuries MacLeods have been known for their devotion to their chief, the tenacity with which they have maintained the ancient Dunvegan castle, their appreciation of music and Gaelic lore, their outstanding record in the professions, and their loyalty to one another. A Clan is not just one family, but a collection of families known as "Septs."

Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada Tartan:
With the support of, and input from, the Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada (CMSC), I have designed, and registered with The Scottish Register of Tartans (www.tartanregister.gov.uk) a new tartan called "Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada" (December 15, 2014, under #11191).
Here is the rationale for the choice of colours:
  1. The background is a large grid or base of red and white, being Canada's National colours (most notably in the Canadian "Maple Leaf" flag);
  2. Another symbol of Canada is the maple leaf, and its fall colours, mixing green, red and yellow. Those colours have been included;
  3. The three main tartans of the Clan MacLeod are predominantly green/blue (Harris), black/yellow (Lewis) and black/red (Ramsay). One set of crossing lines is black and yellow and the other set is green and blue, which, with the red background, pick up all those colours.
  4. The tartan is intentionally bright - reflecting our outlooks as MacLeods and Canadians.
Ian C. MacLeod

For a printable pdf with more information, click HERE