New website for the Court of the Lord Lyon

I've just noticed that the Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates the use of heraldry in Scotland amongst other things, has changed - the new site is available at https://www.courtofthelordlyon.scot/.

Amongst the offerings on the site is a blog and a FAQs section.

Have fun exploring!

Chris

My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts May 13th 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

No, you're not a Scottish laird...

There's a lot of nonsense on the go in some parts of Scotland these days, where you can buy a souvenir plot of land as a gift for yourself or someone else, usually in plots of one square foot, where once purchased it is claimed you can apparently then run and/or leap around the country calling yourself a laird or a lady.

The Edinburgh based Court of the Lord Lyon has provided a suitable clarification at www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/776.html which you may wish to read before you start changing your name by deed poll, adopt airs and graces, enquire about a coat of arms, or seek an entry in Burke's Peerage!

Lairds

The term ‘laird’ has generally been applied to the owner of an estate, sometimes by the owner himself or, more commonly, by those living and working on the estate. It is a description rather than a title, and is not appropriate for the owner of a normal residential property, far less the owner of a small souvenir plot of land. It goes without saying that the term ‘laird’ is not synonymous with that of ‘lord’ or ‘lady’.

Ownership of a souvenir plot of land is not sufficient to bring a person otherwise ineligible within the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon for the purpose of seeking a Grant of Arms.

NB: Other Scottish souvenirs, including shortbread and God's chosen whisky (Laphroaig) are also available...

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Obtaining copies of recent grants of Arms in Scotland

I'm doing some research at the moment which has involved the exploration of a 17th century Coat of Arms as part of a gentleman's story that I am investigating. Although I'm clued up on the basics, heraldry is one of those subject areas where I rarely tread, but in pursuit of this, I contacted the Lord Lyon's office in Edinburgh. The Court of the Lord Lyon is the body which has responsibility for the granting of Arms in Scotland, for prosecuting the illegal use of Arms, as well as for various other ceremonial functions. The wonderful Sophie Reilly, the court secretary, has been exceptionally helpful, noting a recent matriculation of the Arms that I am interested in from 1999, which is a potential research avenue I'm now pursuing.

This raised a broader question, the answer for which may be of interest. In terms of obtaining the recent grant of Arms, it occurred to me that I had no idea what the mechanism was to do so. The ScotlandsPeople website at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk hosts the digitised images of grants of Arms from the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings from 1672 (when it commenced) to 1913, which cost £10 each to download. I therefore asked Sophie what the procedure was for entries recorded after this. It's very easy - simply email the Lyon office and for a fee of £15 they will send an image by email and a transcript of the entry in the Public Register. Contact details for the Lyon Office are available at www.lyon-court.com.

And remember that it is illegal to use someone's coat of Arms in Scotland if they are not granted in your name, as a set of Arms can only be owned by one person. If you don't own them, but use them, you're essentially committing theft. Best avoided really - I've seen the outfits of the Officers of Arms, and they look like they mean it...! :)

(With thanks to Sophie Reilly)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Family History Show episode 9

The latest edition of the Family History Show has just gone online, this month taking a look at the work of the College of Arms in London, the heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and most of the Commonwealth countries with Queen as sovereign (excepting Canada and Scotland). To view the show visit www.familyhistoryshow.net/episode-9-full-show.

Incidentally, the College of Arms has no role in Scotland, where the Court of the Lord Lyon, under the guiding hand of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, is the legal authority. For more on its role visit www.lyon-court.com. A major difference here in Scotland is that the law of arms is treated as part of civil law - hence the 'Court' of the Lord Lyon. Use someone's arms in Scotland that aren't yours and it will soon have you hauled up on a charge...! If you want to know more about the prosecutor responsible, visit the new Facebook page of the Procurator Fiscal to the Court of the Lord Lyon at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Procuator-Fiscal-to-the-Court-of-the-Lord-Lyon/190376270991644

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

University of Highlands & Islands granted Arms

For heraldry buffs, the University of the Highlands and Islands has been granted a set of Arms by the Lord Lyon - the story, with image, is at www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2792745

Incidentally, I've just come across this wee gem on the Lord Lyon's website, suggesting a possible degree of irritation!

The term ‘laird’ has generally been applied to the owner of an estate, sometimes by the owner himself or, more commonly, by those living and working on the estate. It is description rather than a title, and is not appropriate for the owner of a normal residential property, far less the owner of a small souvenir plot of land. It goes without saying that the term ‘laird’ is not synonymous with that of ‘lord’ or ‘lady’. 

Ownership of a souvenir plot of land is not sufficient to bring a person otherwise ineligible within the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon for the purpose of seeking a Grant of Arms.

Love it!!! The Lyon office website is at www.lyon-court.com

Chris :)

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)