Trust and Methodology
The Verification Centre explains how Kilt-Hire.co.uk classifies Scottish surname, clan and tartan records as verified, under review or disputed. It exists so readers can see the confidence level behind a recommendation instead of being asked to trust a simple answer blindly.
100 clan and surname records17 verified74 review-required9 disputed3 high-confidence tartan records
These counts are based on the current published datasets dated 24 June 2026. Records will change as stronger sources, official clan society references, Scottish Register of Tartans details and correction requests are added.
| Record group | Count | What it means | Primary next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verified clan/surname records | 17 | High-confidence surname, spelling variant or direct clan association in the current dataset. | Keep source notes current and improve official-source depth. |
| Review-required records | 74 | Useful for discovery, but not strong enough to present as a firm clan claim without further evidence. | Add official clan society, Standing Council, academic or primary source support. |
| Disputed records | 9 | Multiple possible clan interpretations, regional alternatives or conflicting source traditions. | Show alternatives clearly and avoid one-answer certainty. |
| High-confidence tartan records | 3 | Published tartan finder records with strong confidence and practical wearing guidance. | Continue adding Scottish Register of Tartans links and exact record notes. |
High-confidence surname, clan or tartan associations where the evidence is currently strong enough for practical guidance. Verified does not mean a person has proven ancestry; it means the record has passed the current source checks.
Records that may be useful for discovery but need stronger support before they should be treated as confident. These often rely on starter reference material or lack a specific official clan society citation.
Records where multiple clan associations, regional interpretations or source conflicts are present. These pages should guide users to family research rather than give a single certain answer.
| Record | Primary association | Confidence | Review status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell | Clan Campbell | HIGH / 95 | Verified |
| Douglas | Clan Douglas | HIGH / 95 | Verified |
| Ferguson | Clan Ferguson | HIGH / 95 | Verified |
| MacDonald | Clan MacDonald | HIGH / 95 | Verified |
| Stewart | Clan Stewart | HIGH / 95 | Verified |
| Record | Current association | Confidence | Why it remains under review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamson | Clan Gordon | LOW / 45 | Starter reference support only; stronger official or primary evidence needed. |
| Agnew | Clan Douglas | LOW / 45 | Branch, geography and independent family context may matter. |
| Anderson | Clan Ross | LOW / 45 | Association needs stronger source depth before being treated as firm guidance. |
| Donald | Clan MacDonald | LOW / 45 | Name relationship is plausible for discovery, but still needs source strengthening. |
| Ross | Clan Ross | HIGH / 95 | Clan link is strong; tartan record links still need more exact source depth. |
| Record | Listed association | Alternative context | Reader guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardie | Clan Ferguson | Clan Campbell | Check family geography and documentary evidence before choosing a clan tartan. |
| Hardy | Clan Ferguson | Clan Campbell | Treat as a disputed surname, not a single certain clan answer. |
| Hamilton | Clan Douglas | Independent or other family tradition may apply | Use family history and regional evidence before selecting a tartan. |
| Maxwell | Clan Douglas | Independent or other family tradition may apply | Do not rely on one sept list alone. |
| Young | Clan Stewart | Clan Douglas | Compare sources and consider universal tartans if family evidence is unclear. |
| Tartan | Confidence | Status | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Ferguson Tartan | HIGH / 88 | Pass with notes | High-confidence Ferguson association; exact sett details should still be checked before commissioning garments. |
| Black Watch Tartan | HIGH / 94 | Pass | Strong universal and regimental context; not treated as exclusive to one clan. |
| Royal Stewart Tartan | HIGH / 93 | Pass with notes | Widely worn formal tartan; etiquette nuance is explained rather than overstated. |
| Tier | Source Type | How It Is Used |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottish Register of Tartans | Preferred for tartan names, registered records and exact tartan verification. |
| 2 | Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs | Preferred for recognised clan leadership context where applicable. |
| 3 | Official clan societies | Useful for clan history, sept or associated-name guidance, and modern clan context. |
| 4 | Historic clan references | Useful for discovery, but not treated as final proof on its own. |
| 5 | Academic and museum sources | Used for broader historical, textile and cultural context. |
| 6 | Heritage organisations and suppliers | Useful for availability and practical wear, but checked carefully for commercial bias. |
| Step | What happens | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Record intake | A surname, clan or tartan relationship is added only if there is at least a reasonable discovery source. | No invented associations. |
| 2. Source tiering | Sources are classified by reliability, with primary tartan and official clan sources preferred. | Commercial or weak summaries are not treated as final proof. |
| 3. Confidence scoring | Records receive a confidence level and score based on source agreement, directness and ambiguity. | Users see whether the result is strong, weak or disputed. |
| 4. Page publication | The public page explains confidence, sources, alternatives and review issues. | Uncertainty is visible to readers and AI systems. |
| 5. Correction review | New evidence can upgrade, downgrade or dispute a record. | The dataset remains open to improvement. |
No. A verified record supports a clan or tartan association in the site's dataset. It does not prove individual ancestry or family lineage.
Many Scottish surnames appear in more than one context, and some sept lists vary between sources. Under-review status prevents weak claims from being presented as certain.
Yes, but they should be treated as a starting point. If your surname is disputed, consider family geography, records, living family knowledge, official clan society guidance and universal tartans.
Email hello@kilt-hire.co.uk with the page URL, the claim in question and supporting sources. See the Fact Checking Policy.