Armigerous clan facts for kids
An armigerous clan is a special kind of Scottish clan or family. The word "armigerous" comes from "armiger," which means someone who has the right to use a coat of arms.
These clans are registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon, which is like Scotland's official authority for coats of arms and noble titles. An armigerous clan once had a leader, called a chief, who had a unique coat of arms. But today, they don't have a chief who is officially recognized by the Lyon Court.
Before the year 1745, all clan chiefs had their own coats of arms. However, not all of these were written down in the official book called the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, which started in 1672.
What is an Armigerous Clan?
In Scottish heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms and noble titles, only the leaders or chiefs of clans, families, or names are allowed to have a special type of coat of arms called "undifferenced arms." These are unique to the chief and represent the entire clan.
Why Clans Need a Chief
A clan is seen as a "noble incorporation" when it has a recognized chief. This is because a clan chief holds a title of honor in Scotland. The chief's noble status then extends to the whole clan.
Legal Standing of Clans
Because armigerous clans do not have a recognized chief, they are not officially considered noble communities. This also means they don't have a special legal standing under Scots law, which is the legal system used in Scotland.
See also
- Lord Lyon
- Scottish heraldry
- List of Scottish clans
