The Scottish Crest Badge

A Scottish crest badge is a heraldic badge worn to show allegiance to an individual or membership in a specific Scottish clan. Crest badges are commonly called clan crests, but this is a misnomer; there is no such thing as a collective clan crest, just as there is no such thing as a clan coat of arms.

A motto (derived from the Latin muttum, ‘mutter,’ by way of Italian motto (‘word,’ ‘sentence’), is a maxim; a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group or organization. Mottos are usually found predominantly in written form (unlike slogans, which may also be expressed orally), and may stem from long traditions of social foundations, or from significant events, such as a civil war or a revolution. A motto may be in any language, but Latin has been widely used, especially in the Western world.

A slogan is used in Scottish heraldry as a heraldic motto or a secondary motto. It usually appears above the crest on a coat of arms, though sometimes it appears as a secondary motto beneath the shield. The word slogan dates from 1513, though it is a variant of the earlier slogorn, which was an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm.

A crest is a component of a heraldic display consisting of the device borne on top of the helm. Originating in the decorative sculptures worn by knights in tournaments and, to a lesser extent, battles, crests became solely pictorial after the 16th century.  

The crest badges used by members of Scottish clans are based upon armorial bearings recorded by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland.

Crest badges, much like clan tartans, do not have a long history, and owe much to Victorian era romanticism and the dress of the Highland Regiments. Scottish crest badges have only been worn by clan members on the bonnet since the 19th century. The original badges used by clans are said to have been specific plants worn in bonnets or hung from a pole or spear.

Crest badges consist of a crest and a motto/slogan. These elements are heraldic property and protected by law in Scotland. Crest badges may be worn by anyone; however, those who are not entitled to the heraldic elements within, wear a crest badge surrounded by a strap and buckle. Those who own the heraldic elements within, may wear a crest badge surrounded by a plain circlet. The strap and buckle represent that the wearer is a follower of the individual who owns the crest and motto.

There are established clans that do not have chiefs recognized by the Lord 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 recognized as clan chiefs.

Although “clan crests” are commonly bought and sold, the heraldic crest and motto belong to the chief alone and never the individual clan member.

It is illegal in the United Kingdom (UK) for a clan member to misappropriate the chief’s crest and motto, such as decorating silverware and inscriptions on jewelry. 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 are normally made out of silver or white metal. When illustrated, crest badges should only be printed in monochrome, and should not colored. 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.

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 the Court of the Lord Lyon, clan membership goes with the surname. 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.

The Irvine Clan Crest Badge has a sheaf of Holly consisting of nine leaves Vert slipped and banded Gules. The Motto: SUB SOLE SUB UMBRA VIRENS. (From Latin: “Flourishing both in sunshine and in shade.” Chief: David Hugh Richard Irvine of Drum. Seat: Drum Castle,  Aberdeenshire.

The above information was collected and compiled from non-copyrighted articles on the Internet and elsewhere by Donald Erwin