Clan badges vs family crests??

[Sketraw]

Hi Terry, There is nothing wrong in displaying the 'Crest & Motto' on a website for example as long as it is made clear whom the 'Crest & Motto' belongs to. It is always courteous to ask the owner of the crest & motto but this is not always possible.

The taboo bit is to give any indication that it is your crest & motto, or the family crest or motto. The same would apply to the whole achievement. One could display the whole Achievement (coat of arms) on a website but should again make clear who the arms belong to.

Let me give a better example perhaps; Lets say your name is 'Terry MacDonald' you quite innocently purchase a plaque with a coat of arms on it and stick it on the wall in your home and underneath it says MacDonald.

This could suggest that you are making a claim that these arms are yours, or suggesting these are your family coat of arms (Shriek). It does not tell the person looking at them who the arms belong to.

So lets say the arms you have stuck on your wall are that of the Chief of Clan MacDonald. The plaque underneath the COA should read "The Arms of G. J. MacDonald of MacDonald, Chief of Clan MacDonald".

To err on the safe side it is always better to just display the 'crest' in a strap & buckle with the motto round the outside. The whole achievement, or shield should never be displayed in a strap and buckle which, I have also seen done.

[BoldHighlander]

Hi Terry, There is nothing wrong in displaying the 'Crest & Motto' on a website for example as long as it is made clear whom the 'Crest & Motto' belongs to. It is always courteous to ask the owner of the crest & motto but this is not always possible.

So if I'm reading this right, and please correct me if I'm wrong, at the very least they should include "Clan MacX" with the crest & motto, if not the whole "The Arms of G. J. MacX of MacX, Chief of Clan MacX"?

Just want to be sure I understand correctly what your saying John.
And thank you for the replies, I greatly appreciate it.

[Sketraw]

So if I'm reading this right, and please correct me if I'm wrong, at the very least they should include "Clan MacX" with the crest & motto, if not the whole "The Arms of G. J. MacX of MacX, Chief of Clan MacX"?

Hi Terry, No to 'Clan MacX' because they are not the Arms of Clan MacX. It is not the clan which own the arms but the Chief. Keep remembering arms are personal property of one person (Scotland, England & Southern Ireland that is) apart from those granted to organisations.

Thanks for posting the illustrations. What exactly is a armiger and whats the difference between a clan cheif and a chieftain. Finally are the feathers supposed to be representive of feathers from any particular type of bird (ie eagle, turkey, pigeon)

Sean, An Armiger is a person who has and uses a Coat of Arms. A Chieftain is of lesser importance than the Chief and may well be a Baron or Laird who has a following. The feathers are Eagle Feathers (ok i know the artwork is C**P)

[BoldHighlander]

Hi Terry, No to 'Clan MacX' because they are not the Arms of Clan MacX. It is not the clan which own the arms but the Chief. Keep remembering arms are personal property of one person (Scotland, England & Southern Ireland that is) apart from those granted to organisations.

Thanks for explaining this to me John, I greatly appreciate it & more fully understand.

I find the subject interesting & need to check out the book you all have recommended.