Johnston Clan Colors

A powerful Border Clan who pursued a deadly feud with the Maxwells. Their stronghold was Lochwood Tower, near Beattock, which was burned down by the Maxwells in 1593. The tartan was first published in the Vestiarium Scoticum in 1842. Before that time Border tartans were generally un-named. More likely the tartan came from the Aberdeenshire Johnstons, whose family seat is at Caskieben, Blackburn.

(Ref: The Setts.. No. 82. D.C.Stewart.) The source of tartan 1063 was: Vestiarium Scoticum

Scottish Tartans World Register: Johnston

Johnston Clan Tartan

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Motto and Slogan

The original warcry or slogan of Clan Johnston/e of Annandale was "Light Thieves All," which was a demand to the enemy to dismount and surrender. This slogan was also used as the first motto in the Chief's arms in the early seventeenth century. Later, the Chief adopted the current motto, Nunquam Non Paratus, which means "Never Unprepared." Sometimes the Chief's present motto is translated as "Ready, Aye Ready" or simply "Aye Ready," which is also used as a slogan.

Coat of Arms

The Johnstons, as vassals of the Bruces (The first Lords of Annandale) wore for their arms, a silver shield with a black saltire and a red chief. The next Lords of Annandale were the Randolphs, and the Johnstons, in order to show their allegiance to their new masters, put three gold cushions on the red chief of their shields. When they were raised to peerage, their arms were confirmed and were officially described as "Argent (silver colored) with a Saltire Sable (black diagonal cross) on a Chief Gules (red)." When Robert Bruce became King of Scotland, he conferred the Crest of the "Winged Spur" upon the Johnston messenger.