- Mill: HOE
- Weight: 13 oz.
- Clan Motto: Deid Schaw
- Known Septs Include:
Gowrie, Rothven, Rothveyn, Rothwen, Ruthen, Ruthfen, Ruthven, Ruffin, Ruthwein, Ruthyn, Rythven
- Notes:
This tartan appears first in the 1842 Vestiarium Scoticum.
The family traces its descent from Thor, who settled in Scotland during the reign of David I of Scotland. Thor was, by tradition son of Sweyn the Viking chief, who was the founder of the Clan Ruthven. The name Ruthven comes from the lands north of Loch Rannoch in Perthshire. In Gaelic these lands are called Ruadhainn. This name may be further related to its Viking roots, since there is an island on an inland fiord in Norway, called ‘Roedven’ (inland from the town of “Molde). The island has a stave church from around 1200 and the area has long had links to Scotland. The name of the island derives from the main farm on the island and refers to a river outlet from a ravine or gorge. The local pronunciation of the name of the island approximates with the Scottish pronunciation of “Ruthven” (”Rivven”). In 1488, Sir William Ruthven, 1st Lord Ruthven was created Lord Ruthven by summons to Parliament.