Andrew & William Smith in their 1850 "Authenticated Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland" give this sett and say" Our authority for this Tartan is 'use and wont'. It is universally worn in the North as MacDuff, it has always been known by the 'Trade' as such; and upon a late occasion, when, in honour of Her Majesty, there was one of those grand fetes given at Braemar, called a 'Gathering,' the numerous retainers of General Duff and many others were attired in this Tartan."