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Clan Crest Badges

By Anna Murray

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 26Dec2009 Word count: 515 Viewed: 245 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

A Scottish crest badge, commonly called a clan crest is worn to show allegiance to a specific Scottish clan. There are over 120 types of clan badges. A clan crest badge can be worn on a cap badge or as a brooch. Traditionally the clan crest badge had a clansman's belt which encircles a clan crest, they often feature a motto or slogan.

The popularity of crest badges, owe much to Victorian era romanticism. They developed from the use of specific plants worn in bonnets. Today, they are very popular at clan gatherings, and generally when wearing highlandwear

Crest badges are made out of silver or white metal such as pewter. The name 'clan crest' is slightly misleading as the crest does not belong to a particular clan, rather it belongs to the clan chief and is protected as his personal property under Scottish law. Secondly, in Scotland Coats of Arms and crests belong to individuals rather than families.

Clan crest badges - are referred to as 'heraldic property' which is the assigning, and marshalling of a coat of arms. The Lord Lyon is the sole King of Arms in Scotland. He is Head of the Heraldic Executive and the Judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon which has jurisdiction of all heraldic matters in Scotland. The office of Lyon King of Arms dates from the 14th century.

The crest and motto that appear in Clan crests are the sole property of the Clan Chief, and clan members are only permitted to wear the badge in a show of allegiance to their clan and clan chief. Only Clan chiefs are entitled to wear three eagle feathers behind the circlet of their crest badge.

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 wear two small eagle feathers.

Armigers, bearers of arms, like chiefs and chieftains, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan with a single silver eagle feather. If they are also a member of a Scottish clan he or she may wear the crest badge of their chief, which must be encircled by a strap and buckle.

Women clan members can wear the crest badge as a brooch and don't wear feathers behind the Crest Badge, unless they are Chiefs, Chieftains or Armigers.

Those who are not entitled to the heraldic elements can wear a crest badge surrounded by a strap and buckle, which represents that the wearer is a follower of the individual who owns the crest and motto.

Those who do not have a clan surname 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 by the clan chief.

Surnames such as Smith, Wright, Fletcher, and Miller, which refer to trades, are associated names of many clans, so it falls to the individual to explore their personal ancestry and discovery their own clan.

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