Scottish Tartans Society notes: The Lindsay tartan is often first recognised by its colour, which is unusual as the precise shade of tartan colours is normally left to the discretion of the weaver. The sett is similar to Stewart of Athol, but for the black, rendered in Lindsay as dark blue. The name Lindsay first appeared in the Borders of Scotland in the 12th century. Border Clan tartans were not generally named until the publication in 1842 of the 'romantic fiction' known as the Vestiarium Scoticum.