The Märtha Gahn Tartan Story

At Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers, we have had the privilege of designing tartans for individuals, families, and organisations across the world. Each one carries its own story, but some stand out for the depth of research and personal meaning woven into their design.

The Märtha Gahn Tartan is one of those stories. 

When Colin von Heijne approached us to design a tartan to honour his family history, it quickly became clear that this would be a project rich in heritage and personal significance. Drawing on generations of ancestry and meticulous research into connections between Scotland and Sweden, the Märtha Gahn Tartan celebrates Colin’s lineage and identity.

The story begins with Colin’s great-grandmother, Märtha Maria Christina Fredrika Gahn. After marrying Axel Gustaf von Heijne in 1879, they raised a family together. Among their children was Colin’s grandfather, Carl Axel von Heijne, who later married Annie von Friedrich.

Märtha was the daughter of Carl Wolter Henrik Colquhoun Gahn. It was through his efforts to trace the family’s ancestry that the Scottish connection would eventually come to light.

During a visit to Edinburgh, Carl Wolter Henrik Gahn tried to trace his ancestry but had little success.

Back in Sweden, he received help from Alexander Baron (1738–1814), a Scotsman who concluded that the Swedish “Cahun” - the surname the Gahns had long believed was their original name - was likely a branch of the Colquhoun family.

As a result of this, Baron contacted Sir James Colquhoun, Chief of the Clan, to put forward his argument that the Swedish Gahns were his kinsmen.

With Sir James Colquhoun’s consent, the Lord Lyon King of Arms issued a Birth Brief in 1781, formally recognising Carl Wolter Henrik Gahn and his descendants as part of the Colquhoun lineage.

Märtha’s brother, Carl Pontus Gahn, continued this legacy, achieving distinction in the Swedish army, being knighted in 1809, and adopting the title Gahn of Colquhoun.

Colin first became aware of his Scottish connection as a teenager when joining a London-based Scottish Scout troop, which required proof of Scottish ancestry. Through his great-grandmother Märtha’s lineage, he proudly wore the Colquhoun tartan.

Years later, a visit to Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond, the ancestral home of Clan Colquhoun, reignited his interest in Scottish culture. During that trip, a spontaneous purchase of a bagpipe chanter from a local gift shop “rekindled my interest in bagpipes and all things Scottish,” Colin recalls. 

Following the passing of his father, Colin discovered handwritten notes, written by his father and uncle, detailing the Gahn family’s links to the Colquhouns. This deepened Colin’s desire to explore his ancestry further.

This journey of discovery deepened further during retirement, when discussions with relatives at a family reunion in Stockholm raised questions about the validity of the long-held connection. “Not willing to accept this, I decided I needed to conduct further research.”

Inspired by his research into the von Heijne family’s connection to Clan Colquhoun, Colin felt it was fitting to have a tartan designed to honour this heritage. He approached Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers to bring this vision to life. Drawing on historical documents, archival material, and the wider story of Scots in Sweden, the design process unfolded with care and precision.

The tartan was ultimately named after Colin’s great-grandmother, Märtha Gahn, who stands at the heart of the story. Its design blends colours from the Ancient Colquhoun Tartan with the yellow and blue of the Swedish flag, reflecting the meeting of two cultures and histories.

The Märtha Gahn Tartan not only celebrates Colin’s ancestry but also honours a family lineage of creativity. Märtha Gahn's niece, also named Märtha Gahn, was one of Sweden’s most influential textile designers, whose work left a lasting mark on Scandinavian design.

The Märtha Gahn Tartan is more than a celebration of family ancestry. It represents centuries of history and personal discovery, bringing together Scottish and Swedish heritage in a striking design that honours both.

For Colin, the tartan serves as a lasting tribute to the generations who came before him, particularly Märtha Gahn, whose name it proudly bears.

For us, it stands as a reminder of what makes custom tartan design so rewarding: the opportunity to transform meaningful stories into tangible and timeless designs.

“This project was very satisfying and great fun, though not always straightforward. Many of the references were in Swedish, and the ancestral line was highly convoluted. I was so excited to see the finished product.” - Colin Van Heijne

“When designing a new tartan, so much thought goes into balancing the colours and pattern to create a beautiful design that has depth of meaning for the client and meets the strict criteria required for inclusion in The Scottish Register of Tartans.” - Gordon Nicolson