Scottish heraldic flavor

[davidlpope]

If you can prove that you are of Scottish descent, why don't you just petition the Lord Lyon for arms? It would seem to me that a substantive (ie: real) coat of arms would be more desirable than something made up on your kitchen table.

I've recently looked into this and it may be more difficult than first appears. I can document Scottish descent, but am not eligible for a grant of Scottish arms. One must be directly descended in the male/ surname-bearing line and have solid documentation to prove it. For those whose ancestors recently immigrated, this works out quite well. For those of us whose ancestors came over very early, solid documentation can be a problem. Likewise, for those of us in the US who bear English-descended surnames, etc., the Lord Lyon has no jurisdiction, as I understand it.


Cordially,

David