There is no such thing as a Wong tartan

But that doesn't mean a Wong tartan would be wrong.

The Wong Family Association held a convention this weekend in Toronto, attended by an estimated 1200 people bearing the last name Wong. The first Wongs to arrive in Canada did so in 1858, but the largest migration took place during the period in which the Canadian Pacific Railway was built (1881 - 1884) when it is estimated that as many as 17,000 Chinese men were brought to British Columbia to work on that project.

At the convention the association was presented with a heraldic crest, an official Canadian symbol, by the Canadian Heraldry Authority on behalf of the Queen's representative, Governor General David Johnston, in recognition ofthe contributions made by these men and their descendants over the past 150 years.

Wong Family Crest (Canada)

 So, all this got me wondering if there was, by chance, a Wong family tartan. A quick search of the Scottish Register of Tartans says there is no such thing. But that doesn't mean there couldn't be!

In fact, there are many registered tartans that recognize families, companies and associations not the least bit Scottish.

The Pino Family (Pennsylvania) tartan (Ref No. 10429), for example, was "designed by an Italian-American (who should have been born Scottish) to celebrate her love of bagpipes, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson."

Pino Family (Pennsylvania) (Personal)

One of the most outrageous corporate tartans, in my humble opinion, is one I have written about before: Hello Kitty (STA Ref 6156).

Hello Kitty (Corporate)

I'm sorry, but aside from the crass commercialism the colours just offend me. It looks like a Pepto Bismol factory exploded next to a weaving mill.

But who am I to say, right? There is no reason I couldn't design a family tartan for the Wong Family Association of Canada that recognized their contributions to nation-building, past and present.

There is no such thing as a Wong - errr, wrong - tartan!

(Crass commercialism of my own... if you are interested in the process and costs associated with designing a family, personal or corporate tartan, feel free to contact me at vicki@tartanhousecanada.com)