Tartans
According to folk history, the 6th century BC saw the division of Ireland into five separate kingdoms: Ulster (w), Connaught (s), Munster (e), Leinster, and Mide. Ulster and Connaught were the two most powerful kingdoms. However, by 300 AD, Ulster had lost much of its power. The ruling houses in Connaught and Mide emerged and expanded their kingdoms, essentially splitting Ireland in two. The people of Ulster were pushed to a northern section of Ireland bordering the Irish Sea, and their name was changed to Dal Riata. Eventually the Sons of Niall, the ruling family of Connaught, ruled the Dal Riata. Unhappy with the natural borders of the sea, they began to colonize the land of the Picts.
The Lafferty family does not have a specific tartan but has adopted the Ulster tartan due to the fact that most Lafferty’s were from Ulster. Ulster Red is a dress plaid and Ulster Brown is a work plaid.
The Lafferty family does not have a specific tartan but has adopted the Ulster tartan due to the fact that most Lafferty’s were from Ulster. Ulster Red is a dress plaid and Ulster Brown is a work plaid.
Family Crest/Coat of Arms
Coats of Arms are issued to individuals not families, however, descendants of the person who was granted the coat of arms can succeed to it in the senior male line, those in junior lines can use it with a mark of difference. There are several variations of the family crest due to the fact that If an ancestor received a grant of Arms you can apply to the Chief Herald of Ireland in Dublin for a confirmation of arms, that is a diploma describing the arms and setting out your descent from the last person who owned it legally. If you can not prove descent from the "armiger" then you can apply for a new grant of arms from the Chief Herald which may be based on the earlier design but technically is not connected. The law of arms recognizes the right of any person to "assume arms" and to create a copyright on those arms through use. So you could have a new coat of arms designed and assume use of it as an association or as an individual but they would not be the original and correct family coat of arms just a variation.More information on the crest is located on the history page.