Scottish crest badge

See also:List of crest badges used by Scottish clan members

Crest badge of aclan chiefof a fictionalScottish clan.A clan chief is the only one entitled to three eagle feathers.

AScottish crest badgeis aheraldic badgeworn to show allegiance to an individual or membership in a specificScottish clan.Crest badges are commonly called "clan crests", but this is amisnomer;there is no such thing as a collectiveclancrest, just as there is no such thing as aclancoat of arms.

Crest badges consist of aheraldic crestand amotto/slogan.These elements are heraldic property and protected by law in Scotland. Crest badges may be worn by anyone, but those who are not legally entitled to the heraldic elements wear a crest badge that incorporates a strap and buckle, which indicates that the wearer is a follower of the individual who owns the crest and motto. Anarmigerwho is entitled to the heraldic elements may wear a crest badge that incorporates acirclet.

Crest badges are commonly worn by members of Scottish clans. These badges usually consist of elements from theclan chief's coat of arms. Clan members who wear their chief's crest and motto surrounded by a strap and buckle show they are members of the chief's clan (family).There areestablished clansthat do not have chiefs recognised by theLord Lyon King of Arms.In such cases, clan members sometimes wear the crest badge of the last known chief. Some clans wear crest badges derived from the arms of individuals who were never recognised as clan chiefs. Although so-called "clan crests" are commonly bought and sold, the heraldic crest and motto belong to the chief alone and never to the individual clan member.

Crest badges, much likeclan tartans,do not have a long history and owe much toVictorian eraromanticism,having only been worn on thebonnetsince the 19th century.The originalbadges used by clansare said to have been specific plants worn in bonnets or hung from a pole or spear.

Introduction

Scottish crest badges should only be illustrated inmonochrome,notin colour. Under no circumstances should the strap be coloured blue and the buckle gold, like the badge of theOrder of the Garter(pictured).

Although the term "clan crest" is most commonly used, it is a misnomer. There is in fact no such thing as aclancrest. Although it is possible to purchase "clan crests", and the crest badge itself can be owned by a clan member, the heraldic crest and motto of the badge belong to the chief alone andneverthe clan member. The crest and motto are the sole property of the chief, and clan members are only permitted to wear the badge in a show of allegiance to their clan and clan chief. It is illegal for a clan member to misappropriate the chief's crest and motto in acts such as decoratingsilverwareor inscriptions onsignet ringsand jewellery. In short,coats of arms,crests and mottos are the personal property of one person only, and in terms of "clan crests", they are the property of the clan chief.

Crest badges are specifically used for people to wear, and they are made out ofsilveror white metal. When illustrated, crest badges should only be printed inmonochrome,and they should not be coloured. Women are entitled to wear a crest badge as abrooch,generally worn on the left side, and as such the crest badge may be made of gold.

There are established clans which do not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. In such cases, clan members usually wear a crest badge which contains the crest and motto of the last known chief.However, there are instances where such clans wear crest badges which are based upon the arms of someone who was never a recognised clan chief. For example,Clan Macfie,which current does not have a chief, uses a crest badge which is derived from the arms of one of the first two Macfies who registered Arms at Lyon Court.Another clan —Clan MacEwen— whose chiefly line has been untraced since the 15th century, has a crest badge containing the crest and motto of abaronetbearing thesurnameMcEwen.Oddly enough, theMcEwen Baronetsmay not have any actual link with the main Clan MacEwen at all.Another instance is the crest badge ofClan MacInnes.This crest badge is based upon a modern coat of arms of anarmigerousclan member, not a clan chief.

According to the Englishofficers of armsJohn Martin RobinsonandThomas Woodcock,crests have played a relatively insignificant role inScottish heraldrywhen compared toEnglish heraldry.In consequence, many Scottish armigers, including clan chiefs, have comparatively similar crests to one another.Because of this, crest badges can sometimes show an obvious association with another clan. For example, clans associated with the Chattan Confederation share very similar crest badges bearingwild cats.Clans associated withClan MacTavish—Clan Campbell of Breadalbane,Clan MacIverandClan Campbell— use a crest badges which contain similar crests and mottoes that allude to that of the chief of Clan MacTavish.

Who is entitled to wear a crest badge?

A person does not need to be a member of a clan society to be able to wear a crest badge. Any clan member has a right to it, not just clan societies and clan society members. According to theCourt of the Lord Lyon,clan membership goes with the surname. However, some people who do not bear a clan surname wear the crest badge of their mother's clan, and anyone who offers allegiance to a clan chief is a member of that clan (unless the chief decides to refuse that person's allegiance). Many people bear names that, while not actual clan surnames, areseptnames or associated names of certain clans. Surnames such asSmith,Wright,Fletcher,andMillerare examples of names that are associated names of many clans (as every clan would have its ownsmiths,wrights,fletchers,andmillers). It is up to individuals to explore their personal ancestry and discovery the correct clan that they belong to.

Elements

Scottish crest badges may contain the following elements:

Crest	A crest stands above the wreath which stands above the shield in a coat of arms. It is impossible to own a crest if one is not in possession of a coat of arms, as the crest is adjunct to the coat of arms. InScottish heraldry,the crest is usually accompanied with the motto or slogan, and sometimes an additional motto or slogan is granted which may also appear on a clan member's crest badge.
Wreath	The wreath appears on a coat of arms between the crest andhelmet.When on a crest badge, the wreath is always shown below the crest to show that it is a heraldic crest and not another object.
Coronet	A coronet orantique crownmay replace the wreath in some crests, such as that ofClan DewarorClan MacQuarrie.The antique crown (pictured top) consists of five visible spikes (three and two-halves).The coronet (pictured bottom), referred to as a "crest coronet", consists of three visiblestrawberryleaves (one and two-halves).
Chapeau	The heraldic chapeau can replace the wreath in some crests (such as that ofClan Farquharson), and it may also appear between the wreath and the crest. The chapeau indicates the owner'sbaronialrank.

Wearing the crest badge

Clan chiefs,clan chieftains,armigerousclan members, and un-armigerous clan members may wear crest badges. However, there are differences in the type of crest badge they wear.

Clan chiefs

A clan chief is the head of his or her clan/family, and is the representer of the family's founder. A clan chief must be recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and must possess theundifferenced armsof their name.

Clan chiefs may wear their crestsimpliciter,that is without being encircled by the motto and without any feathers. It is more common, however, for a clan chiefs to wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their motto or slogan (pictured left). The chief's crest badge doesnotcontain the strap and buckle that other clan members are permitted to wear. Clan chiefs are also entitled to wear three eagle feathersbehind the circlet of their crest badge. On certain occasions, such as clan gatherings, it may be appropriate to use real eagle feathers. Clan chiefs that are members of theBritish Peerageor a feudal baron are entitled to wear the appropriate coronet or baronial chapeau above the circlet on their crest badge, though this is a matter of personal preference.

Clan chieftains

Clan chieftains are the representers of large branches of a Scottish clan. They are officially recognised as clan chieftains by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

Clan chieftains, like clan chiefs, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan. Clan chieftains may also weartwosmall eagle feathers (unlike the chief'sthree).On certain occasions real eagle feathers may be worn behind the crest badge. If a clan chieftain is a member of the British Peerage or a feudal baron they are permitted to wear the appropriate coronet or baronial chapeau above the circlet on their crest badge.Clan chieftains may also wear the crest badge of their chief, in the same manner as an un-armigerous clan member (seeUn-armigerous clan membersbelow).

Feudal barons

Recently, feudal barons have taken to wearing two eagle feathers behind their armiger's badge, but there is no ancient tradition of this; it is solely based upon the fact that anciently feudal barons were most likely to have been chiefs or chieftains. If the feudal baron is a member of a clan, it is advisable to consult the clan chief on clan customs and traditions. The Lord Lyon only gives guidance and not governance on the wearing of feathers and recommends consulting with a clan chief, who approves the number of feathers worn by members of the clan for clan events.

Armigerous clan members

In terms of Scottish Heraldry, an armiger is someone who has registered his or her own coat of arms, or has inherited a coat of arms according to the Laws of Arms in Scotland from an ancestor who had arms recorded in the Lyon Register.

Armigers, like clan chiefs and chieftains, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan. Armigers are permitted to wear one silver eagle feather behind the circlet (or on certain occasions a real eagle feather).If an Armiger is a member of the British Peerage or a feudal baron they are permitted to wear the appropriatecoronetor baronial chapeau above the circlet on their crest badge. If an armiger is a member of a Scottish clan, they may wear the crest badge of their chief, however it must be encircled by a strap and buckle (seeUn-armigerous clan membersbelow).

Non-armigerous clan members

Clan Crest Badge ofBrim-DeForestofBalvairdin silver

Members of Scottish clans are considered, by theCourt of the Lord Lyon,to be relatives of their clan chief. They can be either immediate family or extended family. Clan members can also be people who only bear the "clan surname" or aseptname associated with the clan. The Court of the Lord Lyon has also stated that anyone who professes allegiance to both the clan and its chief can be considered a clan member. All clan members may wear the chief's crest encircled by a strap and buckle inscribed with their chief's motto or slogan. Some followers of Chieftains or feudal Barons also wear a crest and buckle badge. The strap and buckle symbolises the membership to the clan and allegiance to the clan chief.

See also

• Scottish heraldry
• List of Scottish clans
• Clan badge,said to be the earlier of badges used by members of Scottish clans
• Heraldic badge,an English version of the crest badge

External links

• The Court of the Lord LyonArchived26 April 2009 at theWayback Machine