Quote Originally Posted by ThistleDown View Post
Arnot, you might search out 'The House of Arnot and Some of its Branches' by Lieut-Col James Arnot, MD published 1918 or Burke's 'Extinct Baronetcies' as aids to finding the crescent origin as used by the family of Arnot. The crescent is often a mark of cadency -- the second son -- but I think in this case it was adopted by someone who actually made it all the way to the Holy Land and back -- and lived to be proud of the fact.
I actually have the House of Arnot. I haven't as yet found a reference to the crescent, but I shall keep looking and look more closely as well. I'm glad you mentioned the Holy Land. That theory crossed my mind, but I thought I might be just coming up with a good story in my own mind. Maybe it's not as crazy an idea as I thought. Many thanks.