Scottish crest badge

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A crest badge for a clansman or clanswoman of Clan MacNeil of Barra.
A crest badge for a clansman or clanswoman of Clan MacNeil of Barra.

A Scottish Crest Badge, more commonly called a Clan Crest, is a heraldic badge worn to show one's allegiance to a specific Scottish clan.[1] Crest badges may be worn by any member of a clan. Even though it is the most common name, the term clan crest is a misnomer. There is no such thing as a clan crest. Modern crest badges usually consist of the clan chief's personal crest surrounded by a strap and buckle and the chief's motto or slogan. Although "clan crests" are commonly bought and sold, the heraldic crest and motto belong to the chief alone and never the clansman or clanswomen.[2] Crest badges, much like clan tartans, do not have a long history, and owe much to Victorian era romanticism, having only been worn on the bonnet since the 19th century.[3] The original clan badges were merely plants worn in bonnets or hung from a pole or spear.[4]

There are several established clans which do not have a chief recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms. In these cases clansmen and clanswomen may wear the crest badge of the last known chief. Crest badges can sometimes show an association with another clan or or ancestor - either in the actual crest or motto and slogan. Examples of clans with associated crest badges are the clans of the Chattan Confederation and also several clans of Siol Alpin.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

Scottish crest badges should only be illustrated in monochrome, not in colour. Under no circumstances should the strap be coloured blue and the buckle gold, like the badge of the Order of the Garter (pictured).
Scottish crest badges should only be illustrated in monochrome, not in colour. Under no circumstances should the strap be coloured blue and the buckle gold, like the badge of the Order of the Garter (pictured).[2]

Although the term "clan crest" is most commonly used, it is a misnomer. There is in fact no such thing as a clan crest. Although it is possible to purchase "clan crests", and the crest badge itself can be owned by a clansman or clanswoman, the heraldic crest and motto of the badge belong to the chief alone and never the clansman or clanswomen. The crest and motto within and are the sole property of the chief, and clansmen and clanswomen are only permitted to wear the badge in a show of allegiance to their clan and clan chief. It is illegal for a clansman or clanswoman to misappropriate the chief's crest and motto in acts such as decorating silverware and inscriptions on signet rings and 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.[2]

Crest badges are specifically used for clansmen and clanswomen to wear, and are made out of silver or white metal. When illustrated, crest badges should only be printed in monochrome, and should not coloured. Women are entitled to wear the crest badge as a brooch, generally worn on the left side, and as such the crest badge may be of gold.[2]

There are several established clans which do not have a chief recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms. In these cases clansmen and clanswomen may wear the crest badge of the last known chief.[2] In the case of Clan Macfie, which does not have a current chief, the crest badge is derived from the coat of arms of one of the first two Macfies who registered Arms at Lyon Court.[5] Another clan, Clan MacEwen, whose chiefly line has been untraced since the 15th century, has a crest badge containing the crest and motto of a baronet bearing the surname McEwen. Oddly enough, this family may not have any actual link with the main Clan MacEwen at all.[6]

Crest badges can sometimes show an association with another clan or or ancestor - either in the actual crest or motto and slogan. For example, the majority of the clans that make up the Chattan Confederation bear wild cats in their crest badges.[7] There are also several clans that are said to make up Siol Alpin, and several of the crest badges of these clans allude to a traditional descent from Alpin, father of Cináed mac Ailpín, King of the Picts, of whom the Scots tradition considered the first King of Scots.

[edit] 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 clansmen or clanswoman has a right to it, not just clan societies and clan society members. According to the Court of the Lord Lyon clan membership goes with the surname. Clan membership does not automatically pass through a woman who has changed her name in marriage and through to her children - thus children are members of their fathers' clan. Although, today many people who do not bear a clan surname do wear crest badges of their mother's clan, and anyone who offers their allegiance to a clan chief is a member of a clan (unless the chief decides to refuse that person's allegiance). Many people bear names that, while not actual clan surnames, are sept names or associated names of certain clans. Surnames such as Smith, Wright, Fletcher, and Miller are examples as such names that are associated names or many clans (as every clan would have its own smiths, wrights, fletchers and millers). It is up to the individual to explore their personal ancestry and discovery the correct clan that they belong to.[2][8]

[edit] Elements of a Scottish Crest Badge

Scottish Crest Badges may contain the following elements:

  • The 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 has not in possession of a coat of arms, as the crest is adjunct to the coat or arms. In Scottish 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 clansman or clanswoman's crest badge.[2]
  • The wreath: The wreath appears appears on a coat of arms between the crest and helmet. 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.[2]
  • The coronet. In some cases the coronet replaces the wreath in crests. There are several clan chiefs who have crest coronets beneath their crests instead of wreaths.[2]
  • The chapeau. In some cases the heraldic chapeau replaces the wreath in crests, it can also sometimes appear between the wreath and the crest. The chapeau indicates the owner's baronial rank.[2]

[edit] Wearing the crest badge

Clan chiefs, clan chieftains, armigers, clansmen and clanswomen may wear crest badges.

[edit] Clan chiefs

Clan chiefs may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with his or her motto or slogan. The chief's crest badge does not contain the strap and buckle that a clan member may wear. The chief may also wear three eagle feathers behind the circlet. On certain occasions, such as clan gatherings, it may be appropriate to use real eagle feathers. If a clan chief is a member of the British Peerage he or she is entitled to wear the appropriate coronet above the circlet on their crest badge, though this is a matter of personal preference.[2]

[edit] Clan chieftains

Clan chieftains, like clan chiefs, may wear his or her own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with his or her own motto or slogan. Clan chieftains may also wear two small eagle feathers (unlike the chief's three). On certain occasions real eagle feathers may be worn behind the crest badge. If they are a member of the British Peerage, clan chieftains are permitted to wear the appropriate coronet above the circlet on their crest badge.[2]

[edit] Armigers

In terms of crest badges, 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.[2]

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 he or she is permitted to wear the appropriate coronet above the circlet on their crest badge. If an Armiger is a member of a Scottish clan, he or she may also wear the crest badge of their clan chief like a clansman or clanswomen.[2]

[edit] Clansmen and clanswomen

Clansmen and clanswomen are relatives of the chief, both immediate family and extended family, people who share the same "clan surname" or one of its sept or associated names, or people who profess allegiance to both the clan and its chief.[2]

Clansmen and clanswomen may wear the chief's crest encircled by a strap and buckle inscribed with their chief's motto or slogan. The strap and buckle symbolises the membership to the clan and allegiance to the clan chief.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Crests Retrieved on 2008-01-31
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Information Leaflet No. 2 Retrieved on 2008-01-29
  3. ^ Campbell of Airds, Alastair. A History of Clan Campbell, Volume 2, From Flodden to the Restoration. Edinburgh University Press, 2000. ISBN 1902930185. pp. 289–290.
  4. ^ Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain. The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967. p. 20.
  5. ^ Clan Macfie Retrieved on 2007-10-08
  6. ^ Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain. The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967. pp. 99–100.
  7. ^ Clan Chattan Badges & Motto Retrieved on 2008-01-31
  8. ^ Who is a member of a clan? Retrieved on 2008-01-31

[edit] External links