Celtic Moment

Ever wondered about the small badges and feathers worn by people at highland games? You might be interested to know that there are 120 types of clan crest badges, featuring a range of mottos and slogans.

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. In fact ‘clan crests’ belong to the clan chief rather than to all members of the clan. 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 has juristriction over all heraldic matters in Scotland. The office of Lyon King of Arms dates from the 14th century.

Members of clans can only wear the badge to show allegience to the clan and it’s chief – the crest is the sole property of the clan chief and is protected under law. 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. Two eagle feathers may also be worn by clan chieftains.

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 can also wear the clan crest as a brooch. If they are chiefs, chieftians or armigers in their own right they can wear feathers.

The use of a strap and buckle around the crest is to show that the wearer is a follower of the person who own the crest and motto.

Individuals who pledge allegiance to a clan, become members of that clan, unless the clan chief refuses them.

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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