Armigerous clan
The word "armigerous" means "bearing a coat of arms". To call a clan "armigerous" is a misnomer. A clan cannot bear arms and thus cannot be armigerous. A clansperson or a clan society or other organisation can bear a coat of arms and be armigerous but that does make the clan armigerous or in right of arms. Before 1745 all chiefs had arms; however, not all of these are recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, which was established in 1672. In Scottish heraldry, only chiefs or heads of clans or families bear undifferenced arms.[clarification needed] A clan is considered a "noble incorporation" because a clan chief is a title of honour in Scotland under the law.[1][2][3][4]
See also
References
- ^ Friar, Stephen; Ferguson, John (1993). Basic Heraldry. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 102. ISBN 0-393-03463-1.
- ^ "The search for clan chiefs". The Court of the Lord Lyon. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
- ^ "What is a clan?". The Court of the Lord Lyon. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
