Quote Originally Posted by EagleJCS View Post
A few years ago, I was told by a member of the Society of Scottish Armigers that, for US citizens, you only need to show descent from someone who was a subject of The Crown (the King/Queen) prior to Sept 3, 1783 (the date the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the Revolutionary War). This person didn't necessarily have to be Scottish, just "a subject of the crown", but I think that's the general presumption.
I think the person you spoke to may have confused the general attitude of the College of Arms in London with the practice of the Lyon Court. The court of the Lord Lyon is generally pleased to grant arms to virtuous and well deserving persons born in Scotland, normally resident in Scotland, and those of Scottish descent residing elsewhere.

Born is Scotland is pretty self-explanatory; normally resident means just that-- a university student or a company executive (not a Crown subject) living in Scotland would be qualified to seek out a grant of arms from the Lord Lyon. As far as the Scottish diaspora is concerned let's say your great-great-grandfather was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1856. Provided you could prove your descent (birth certificates, etc.) you would be entitled to apply for arms in Scotland, and all things being equal the Lord Lyon would be willing to grant them.

Descent through the female line is more difficult because of the tendency for children to assume the name of the father. In grants based on a Scottish ancestor the letters patent usually include the words "...and to the other descendants of (The Name of the Scottish Ancestor) the arms following, with such due and proper differences..."

In the instance of General Colin Powell his entitlement to arms was based first and foremost on his having been made an honourary knight in one of her majesty's orders of chivalry. The choice to seek the grant in Scotland may have been influenced by Powell's Scottish ancestry or by his desire to have "substantive arms" as opposed to the "honorary" arms devised by the College.