Bell of the Borders
Nicknamed 'Dress Blue', the Bell of the Borders tartan was designed in early 1984 by Col. William Bell, President of the Bell Clan Descendants at the time. The design was accepted by the clan during the 1984 Bell gathering in Staunton, Virginia. The name Bell is thought to derive from the French word ‘Bel’ or ‘Belle’ and is almost exclusively found in Borders, mainly Dumfriesshire, having settled there around the 11th century. It is believed they are descended from a Norman follower of King David I of Scotland. By the 17th century, 31 families were living in the region.
