- Mill: HOE
- Weight: 13 oz.
- Known Septs Include:
Names associated with the clan: MacSporran McSporran, McSparren Porcel Porcell Purcell Pursel Pursell Pursill Sporran
- Notes:
It was reported by the Tartans Society in 1975: "Last year, John MacSporran, the chieftain-elect of the newly formed Clan MacSporran, visited to discuss the selection of a tartan for his Clan. Legend states that the MacSporrans - undisputed purse-bearers to the Lordship of the Isles - bore a gold thread prominently upon their sett. It is understood that efforts are still being made by MacSporran to identify the correct MacDonald or Lord of the Isles sett in which to intrude the traditional gold thread" MacDonald variation. Sample in Johnston Collection handwoven by Peter MacDonald.
The name MacSporran means literally "Son of the Purse" and by tradition the MacSporrans were the purse bearers (or treasurers) to the Lords of the Isles.
It is said that Donald, first Lord of the Isles, appointed a court of 16 office bearers in the twelfth century. These were either close family members or persons of high position, and each was given a hereditary title, including Beth (physician), Murrich (bard), Lavery (speaker) and Sporran (pursebearer). Thus only one person at any one time held the name until 1497 when the Lordship was annexed by the Stuart King of Scotland. Today the title Lord of the Isles is nominally held by Prince Charles. Although the MacSporrans are not accepted as a distinct clan by the Lord Lyon, they are recognized as a sept of the Clan Donald.