<<

the baronies of Duffus, Petty, Balvenie, Heraldic Arms and Aberdour in the northeast of Clan On 15 May 1990 the Court of Lord , as well as the lordships of Lyon granted The Murray Clan Society Bothwell and Drumsargard and a our armorial ensign heraldic arms. An Society number of other baronies in lower armorial ensign is the design carried on Clydesdale. Sir Archibald, per the a flag or shield. English property law of jure uxoris, for "by right of (his) wife" became the The Society arms are described on th th Clan Badges legal possessor of her lands. the 14 page of the 75 Volume of Our Public Register of All Arms and Bearings and Heraldic Which Badge to Wear in Scotland, VIDELICT as: , five Although Murrays were permitted to annulets conjoined in wear either the or demi-man between three mullets of the Last. Above Arms crest badges, sometime in the late the Shield is placed an Helm suitable to Clan Badges 1960’s or early 1970’s, the Lord Lyon an incorporation (VIDELICET: a Sallet to the advent of heraldry, declared the demi-man Proper lined Scottish clansmen and clanswomen crest badge inappropriate. Since his ) with a wore badges to identify themselves. decisions on heraldic matters have the Clan badges were devices with family or force of law in Scotland, all the personal associations which identified manufacturers of clan badges, etc., the possessor, not unlike our modern ceased producing the demi-man. There class rings, insignias, union pins, was a considerable amount of feeling on etc. There was usually a reason for this subject, especially in North America, adopting a particular devise: and when the 10th of sentimental, political, commemorative, assumed his position as of the or family association and it was more Murray Clan he appealed this decision often generally recognized than heraldic and requested the continued use of the arms. There are two types of clan demi-man as the clan crest badge. Azure doubled Argent, and on badges: Plant Badges and Crest Eventually in the 1980’s the Lord Lyon a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest Badges. reversed the original decision, allowing a tower Argent, masoned , use of the demi-man crest badge. charged of a crest- Azure, and in Plant Badges an Escrol over the same is this Following this decision, the Chief Before there were crest badges, “FORWARD WITH FORTUNE”, by decided that the demi-man should be the clansmen and clanswomen wore plant demonstration of which Ensigns crest badge used by members of his badges as a means of distinguishing Armorial the said Society is amongst all Clan. The Lord Lyon approved this themselves from members of other Nobles and in all Places of Honour, to be decision in 1993. Today the demi-man . Plant badge sprigs were worn on taken, numbered, accounted and and the motto “Furth Fortune and Fill the the bonnets, as are crest badges today. received as a Society Noble in the Fetters” is recorded in the Register of The plant badge had the advantages of Noblesse of Scotland. Arms of the . simplicity and availability for use by servants, retainers, and others claiming association with the owner but who translation of “Tout Prêt” is “Quite (or (1607?-1642), became the 1st could not display the heraldic arms. Always) Ready.” The mermaid is Murray Earl of Atholl. Then in 1703 a The Murray Clan plant badges are traced back to the Lordship of descendent, and another John the juniper (“aitionn” in Scots Gaelic) for Murray (1660-1724), was created st Atholl and the butcher’s broom the 1 “with remainder (“gaigbhealaidh” in Scots Gaelic) for Murray.

Today, clansmen and clanswomen Balquidder. When the Murray’s may wear a sprig of plant badge pinned assumed that title in the 16th Century, falling heirs male of his own to the behind the clan crest badge on a man’s they adopted the mermaid as their heirs male of his father”. The demi- bonnet or a lady’s -badge brooch. crest badge. man and the motto are engraved on Crest Badges • The demi-man, also known as the the keystone over the main entrance Under Scottish law, clansmen and demi-savage, and the motto “Furth of . clanswomen may wear their chief’s crest Forth and Fill the Fetters” was • The peacock is the crest of Clan granted to the 1st Stewart Earl of encircled with a strap and buckle bearing Arbuthnott but is sometimes sold as Atholl by King James III of Scotland their chief’s motto or . The a Murray Clan crest badge. It is not. in 1475 to commemorate the Earl’s encircled crest is called a crest badge. The convoluted story of how it successful raid against John Through the years Murray Clan chiefs became associated with the Murrays MacDonald II, Lord of the Isles. The have had more than one crest or crest begins when Philip de Arbuthnott crest and motto ceased to belong to badge. (1330-1400) married Margaret the Atholl Stewarts when John • The is depicted very early Douglas, daughter of Sir James mermaid Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl (1563- in . As Murray Douglas of Dalkeith (d. 1420), who 1595), died without a male heir and means people who came from or was a chief ally of Sir Archibald the earldom reverted to the . In lived by the sea, the Council of , “the Grim” (1325-1400). In 1604 William Murray (1574-1627), Chiefs designated this crest to be 1362 Sir Archibald married Lady 2nd Earl of , married worn by Murray clansmen or Joanna de Moravia ( Latin for heiress Dorothea Stewart of Atholl. clanswomen. On the crest is a Moray) who was the widow of Sir When petitioned, King Charles I mermaid holding in her dexter hand Thomas de Moravia. He had died of (1600-1649) agreed to revive the a mirror and in her sinister hand a the plague the previous year in the earldom of Atholl in favor of Lord comb, all proper, with the motto Tower of London. Upon his death Tullibardine’s children by Lady “Tout Prêt” for the chief-ship of the Lady Joanna became the heiress to Dorothea. Thus, in 1629 William’s Name and Arms of Murray. The the Moray properties at Bothwell and and Dorothea’s eldest son, John