X Marks the Scot - An on-line community of kilt wearers.

   X Marks Partners - (Go to the Partners Dedicated Forums )
USA Kilts website Celtic Croft website Celtic Corner website Houston Kiltmakers

User Tag List

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21

Thread: Coat of Arms

  1. #1
    Join Date
    30th April 15
    Location
    Baytown, Texas
    Posts
    29
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Coat of Arms

    My surname is Thomas. I was wondering if anyone out there can tell me where I can go to find out my
    coat of arms? I like to make one and hang it in my house for display.

    boats

  2. #2
    Join Date
    5th August 14
    Location
    Oxford, Mississippi
    Posts
    4,756
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    The link I offer is one of many that will lead you to fill your quest.
    https://www.houseofnames.com/

    I stand by Mr. Ashton's comment. My link was to lead you to a family crest (not to a particular coat of arms). I wasn't being as specific as see your question was. Please forgive my oversight.
    Last edited by Tarheel; 12th June 15 at 08:26 AM. Reason: corrected after Steve's posting

  3. #3
    Join Date
    24th September 04
    Location
    Victoria, BC Canada 48° 25' 47.31"N 123° 20' 4.59" W
    Posts
    4,311
    Mentioned
    16 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Is your family from Scotland?

    If so perhaps you may be interested in what the Court of the Lord Lyon has to say about coats of arms.

    The Lord Lyon is the sole King of Arms in Scotland. He is Head of the Heraldic Executive and the Judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon which has jurisdiction over all heraldic business in Scotland.

    http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/216.181.html


    "There is a widespread misconception that a family or a clan can have a family or clan Coat of Arms. Many heraldic and clan web sites and other media suggest that a person has the right to use the family or clan Arms. This is completely incorrect.

    A Coat of Arms belongs only to one individual person and can only be used by that person and no one else. In order for a person to be able to use a Coat of Arms it is necessary for that individual person to apply for a personal Coat of Arms to be granted to him or her ."
    Last edited by Steve Ashton; 12th June 15 at 08:03 AM.
    Steve Ashton
    Forum Owner

  4. The Following 2 Users say 'Aye' to Steve Ashton For This Useful Post:


  5. #4
    Join Date
    30th April 15
    Location
    Baytown, Texas
    Posts
    29
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    coat of arms

    Steve Ashton

    Yes, my family came from Scotland. I do not know if they were big of a clan to have a family crest. I am
    also part of the Montgomery line also since my great grandmother was a Montgomery. I was also told
    that the Thomas did not have a coat of arms because they were a small group and they were a sept to
    the Montgomery.

    boats

  6. #5
    Join Date
    24th September 04
    Location
    Victoria, BC Canada 48° 25' 47.31"N 123° 20' 4.59" W
    Posts
    4,311
    Mentioned
    16 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    What I was trying to say boats is that there is no such thing as a family coat of arms under the Scottish system.

    Arms are granted to, and the exclusive property of, one individual person.

    What you may wear or display is the crest of Clan MacThomas. Here is one link. http://www.clanmacthomas.org/
    Last edited by Steve Ashton; 12th June 15 at 09:20 AM.
    Steve Ashton
    Forum Owner

  7. #6
    Join Date
    30th April 15
    Location
    Baytown, Texas
    Posts
    29
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Steve Ashton

    In that case, is there a such a thing as a family crest for the Thomas line? I like to know if there is one
    so I can make one and hang it in the house for display. I do know that my ancestors are from Scotland
    but I do know what line of ancestors they are from.

    boats

  8. #7
    Join Date
    21st July 14
    Location
    Burien Washington USA
    Posts
    1,086
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    boats, if your family name is Thomas, and if you know your ancestors came from Scotland, then you likely belong to Clan MacThomas, a recognized clan with it`s own tartan, etc. If you look at the shop page on the MacThomas society website, you will see a clan crest badge. Seems to be a wildcat holding (throttling?) a snake, with the motto "Deo juvante invidiam superado." (With God`s help I will rise above envy) This is what a clan member would wear as a cap badge. Of course it would look great reproduced any size you like, hanging on your wall. Hope that helps, and if you knew all that already, please excuse me.

  9. #8
    macwilkin is offline
    Retired Forum Moderator
    Forum Historian

    Join Date
    22nd June 04
    Posts
    9,938
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Dughlas mor View Post
    boats, if your family name is Thomas, and if you know your ancestors came from Scotland, then you likely belong to Clan MacThomas, a recognized clan with it`s own tartan, etc. If you look at the shop page on the MacThomas society website, you will see a clan crest badge. Seems to be a wildcat holding (throttling?) a snake, with the motto "Deo juvante invidiam superado." (With God`s help I will rise above envy) This is what a clan member would wear as a cap badge. Of course it would look great reproduced any size you like, hanging on your wall. Hope that helps, and if you knew all that already, please excuse me.
    One more thing to add to this post: don't forget that the best way to identify a possible link to a clan is a geographic location; ancestors who were from the traditional area associated with a particular clan. A Williamson from Fife, for example, would most likely not be a part of Clan Gunn, while a Williamson from Wick or Thurso would most likely have that necessary connection.

    T.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    21st July 14
    Location
    Burien Washington USA
    Posts
    1,086
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by macwilkin View Post
    One more thing to add to this post: don't forget that the best way to identify a possible link to a clan is a geographic location; ancestors who were from the traditional area associated with a particular clan. A Williamson from Fife, for example, would most likely not be a part of Clan Gunn, while a Williamson from Wick or Thurso would most likely have that necessary connection.

    T.
    Um, yes. I just learned that not all those named Thomas belong to MacThomas, so some more research might be needed. "The Scottish Tartans," by Johnston and Bacon, lists Thomas as connected to Campbell or Mackintosh.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    25th September 04
    Location
    Victoria, BC, Canada 1123.6536.5321
    Posts
    4,794
    Mentioned
    3 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    We see the very common misconception that if you are Scottish then you must be associated with a Clan.

    This Is not necessarily true. The Clan system was only in the Highlands or the NorthWest part of the Country.
    The vast majority of Scots lived in the Lowlands. That is where most of the cities are.

    Those from the Lowlands are 100% Scottish and have a lot to be proud of but may or may not be part of a Highland Clan. There are Scots who carry the name of a Highland Clan but are from the lowlands and have no clan affiliation at all.

    The only way to know for sure is to do your genealogy. And I'm not talking about doing a google search. Doing your genealogy is a paper chase. You start with your birth certificate. That will give you the names of your two parents. It may say where they are from. You go to that place and find their marriage license or birth certificates. That leads to the next piece of paper.

    If you do not have an unbroken paper trail you do not have a genealogy. Some people spend a lifetime tracing their genealogy. Most can never get beyond just a few generations.

    And one more tidbit. Remember that a person's family tree does not start with a single person back in history and grow larger and wider over the years and generations. It is actually the reverse. It starts with you and grows and expands the further back you go. For a hypothetical example - If each of your ancestors had children at age 20 then you have one generation each 20 years. 100 years would be 5 generations. 5 generations back you have 32 grandparents. You trace your lineage through 32 different lines. That's only back to around WWI.

    If you can follow your paper trail back to a grandparent who lived up in the area of Glen Shee then you may have a Highland Clan affiliation. If your paper trail leads to somewhere else, you may not.
    Steve Ashton
    www.freedomkilts.com
    Skype (webcam enabled) thewizardofbc
    I wear the kilt because:
    Swish + Swagger = Swoon.

  12. The Following 4 Users say 'Aye' to The Wizard of BC For This Useful Post:


Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

» Log in

User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.0