A Scottish clan crest badge is the clan chief’s own heraldic crest and motto, worn by members of the clan inside a strap and buckle as a sign of allegiance. The badge shows you belong to the clan, but the crest on it belongs to the chief alone. All of this sits within Scots heraldic law, overseen by the Court of the Lord Lyon. In Scotland it is a criminal offence to use arms that are not recorded in the official register, which has been kept since 1672. Tartan, for all its fame, is not part of heraldry at all.
The Court of the Lord Lyon
Scotland has its own heraldic authority, separate from the College of Arms in London. The Lord Lyon King of Arms heads it, and the Officers of Arms who serve with him are members of the Royal Household in Scotland. The heralds’ earliest duties were ceremonial and diplomatic rather than armorial, and those ceremonial roles continue today.
What makes Lyon unusual is that it is a court as well as an office. The four principal statutes behind it are the Lyon King of Arms Acts of 1592, 1669, 1672 and 1867. The 1672 Act established the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, and since then that register has contained every coat of arms legally in use in Scotland. In practice this means:
- arms not recorded in the Public Register may not lawfully be used in Scotland, and using them is a criminal offence;
- a Procurator Fiscal, appointed by the Scottish Ministers, decides whether to bring prosecutions for unlawful use of arms before the Lord Lyon;
- matriculation of arms (recording an inherited right, described below) is a judicial act, with appeal directly to the Court of Session.
Scots law is also strict about ownership. In the Lyon Court’s words, “a personal coat of arms can only be borne by one person at a time.” Other descendants of an armiger who want to use arms must petition to matriculate them in their own name. That is why there is no such thing as a Scottish “family coat of arms” for a surname (see what is a family coat of arms?). For research, Sir James Balfour Paul, himself Lord Lyon, published An Ordinary of Arms Contained in the Public Register (1893; 2nd edition 1903), and a supplement covering 1902–1973 appeared in 1977.
The clan crest badge: strap, buckle and feathers
The crest is the part of a full heraldic achievement that sits on top of the helmet (our guide to coat of arms vs. family crest explains the difference). In Scotland, the chief’s crest became the clan’s badge. Lyon’s guidance on who wears what is precise:
| Who | What they wear |
|---|---|
| Clan chief | His or her own crest within a plain circlet inscribed with the motto or slogan; may add three silver eagle’s feathers behind it |
| Head of a large branch, recognised as a chief by Lord Lyon | Own crest in a plain circlet, with two small eagle’s feathers |
| Armiger (anyone with registered or inherited arms) | Own crest within a plain circlet with own motto, with one silver eagle’s feather; or, if a clansman, the chief’s crest badge |
| Clansman or clanswoman | The chief’s crest encircled by a strap and buckle bearing the chief’s motto or slogan |
The strap and buckle is the key detail. Lyon calls it “the sign of the clansman”: it shows that you profess allegiance to the chief and wish to show your association with the clan. The plain circlet without a buckle is for a chief or an armiger wearing their own crest. Whoever bought the badge, the crest and motto on it remain the chief’s. If you want to understand what the motto on your badge says, see our guide to family mottoes.
Clans, families and chiefs
The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs describes a clan as the extended family of people who bear the clan surname or the name of one of its septs, together with those who profess allegiance to the chief. Scotland has both “clans” and “families” (sometimes called “names”), and either can be headed by a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon.
How chiefs are recognised
A claimant must prove descent from the last known chief. The Lord Lyon reviews the genealogical evidence and must be satisfied that the descent is correctly proved; he then recognises the claimant as chief and confirms the chiefly arms. All chiefs before 1745 bore arms, although not all were entered in the Public Register when it began in 1672. Where no chief can be found, there is a slower route: members of the name record their own arms, a family gathering called a derbhfine can propose a Commander to Lyon, and a chief can only be considered after a further ten years.
Septs
Many clans list “septs”, surnames whose families historically owed allegiance to the clan as dependants or cadet branches. A sept name is a historical association with a clan. On its own it does not prove that your family descends from the chief’s line. If your surname appears on more than one clan’s list, ordinary genealogy is the only way to know which connection is yours (see how to trace your surname origin).
Tartan is not heraldry
Tartan and heraldry are often mixed up, but they are separate systems. Arms are granted by Letters Patent and entered in Lyon’s Public Register. Tartans are recorded in the Scottish Register of Tartans, created by the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008 and kept by the Keeper of the Records of Scotland. Registering a tartan does not give the registrant copyright or design rights.
The rules on wearing tartan are also looser than the rules on arms. The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs says there are “no strict rules on who has the right to wear a particular tartan”. People usually wear the tartan of their surname, or a district tartan linked to where they or their family come from, and wearing a clan tartan signals allegiance to that clan’s chief. The Council adds that a tartan may use a clan’s name only with the chief’s approval.
Can Americans, Canadians and Australians get Scottish arms?
Sometimes, but the rules are strict. Under the 1672 Act a petitioner must be a “virtuous and well-deserving person”, and Lyon’s main test is a connection with Scotland, usually domicile or property there. According to Lyon’s published guidance:
- Commonwealth citizens, especially those of Scottish descent, can apply, except in Canada and South Africa, which have their own heraldic authorities.
- It is “not generally possible for non-British citizens to be granted Scottish Arms.” The Lyon Court’s FAQ adds that you may be able to apply for arms to be granted in the name of an ancestor who lived in Scotland, if you can prove descent from that ancestor.
- If you descend from an ancestor of the same name who already had a Scottish grant, you petition for a matriculation, proving your relationship to the original grantee.
- Every claim about parentage must be backed by legal proof such as birth and marriage certificates, and the whole process generally takes 30 to 36 months.
A successful petition ends with Letters Patent (or, for a matriculation, an Extract of Matriculation): a document on vellum, painted in full colour and sealed, which Lyon calls the “title deed to the Arms”. If you have been offered a “clan coat of arms” by a souvenir seller, Lyon’s FAQ is blunt that such items are simply souvenirs. Our guide on how to verify a coat of arms explains how to tell the difference, and heraldry by country compares Scotland with its neighbours.
See the arms recorded for your surname →
Sources
- Court of the Lord Lyon, home page: https://courtofthelordlyon.scot/
- Court of the Lord Lyon, “Crests”: https://courtofthelordlyon.scot/crests.htm
- Court of the Lord Lyon, “FAQs”: https://courtofthelordlyon.scot/faqs.htm
- Court of the Lord Lyon, “Petitioning for Arms”: https://courtofthelordlyon.scot/coats%20of%20arms.htm
- Court of the Lord Lyon, “About Us”: https://courtofthelordlyon.scot/about%20us.htm
- Lyon King of Arms Act 1672, legislation.gov.uk: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aosp/1672/47
- Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, “Crests”: https://www.clanchiefs.org.uk/crests/
- Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, “The search for clan chiefs”: https://www.clanchiefs.org.uk/the-search-for-clan-chiefs/
- Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, “Tartans”: https://www.clanchiefs.org.uk/tartans/
- Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008, Explanatory Notes, legislation.gov.uk: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/7/notes/contents
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear my clan’s crest badge?
Yes. Guidance from the Court of the Lord Lyon says it is correct for clansmen and clanswomen who profess allegiance to their chief to wear the chief’s crest encircled by a strap and buckle bearing the chief’s motto. The strap and buckle is the sign of the clansman; the crest and motto themselves belong to the chief.
Is there a coat of arms for my clan or surname?
No. The Lord Lyon’s guidance is that a clan cannot have a coat of arms, and that a personal coat of arms can only be borne by one person at a time. The chief’s arms belong to the chief; clan members show their connection through the crest badge.
Is it illegal to use a coat of arms in Scotland?
Using arms that are not properly recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland is a criminal offence in Scotland. A Procurator Fiscal appointed by the Scottish Ministers decides whether to bring prosecutions for unlawful use before the Lord Lyon.
Can an American get Scottish arms from the Lord Lyon?
It is not generally possible for non-British citizens to be granted Scottish arms. The Lyon Court’s FAQ notes that you may be able to apply for arms to be granted in the name of a Scottish ancestor if you can prove descent, and Commonwealth citizens of Scottish descent can apply, except in Canada and South Africa, which have their own heraldic authorities.
Are tartans part of heraldry?
No. Tartans are recorded in the Scottish Register of Tartans, set up under the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008 and kept by the Keeper of the Records of Scotland. The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs says there are no strict rules on who may wear a particular tartan.