Coat of Arms and Family Badge

Coats of Arms, or Armorial Bearings as they formally known are granted, not to a family, but to an individual (known as an armiger). The Arms though can be inherited by the oldest son. Hence, there is no such thing as a family Coat of Arms. In Scotland, the use of Coats of Arms are controlled by law, and administered by the Court of the Lord Lyon which maintains the Register of all Arms and Bearings in Scotland.  In Scotland, use of someone else’s Coat of Arms can lead to prosecution. Any individual who can demonstrate a direct line of descent from an armiger, and with a couple of thousand UK Pounds to spare, can apply for a Grant of Arms.

A Coat of Arms consists of a shield, upon which one or more symbols appear . The shield is topped by a helmet or helm, which in turn is topped by a crest. The shield may or may not have supporters (usually animals on each side) and mantling (leaf like designs surrounding the shield).

The following is one version of a Coat of Arms said to have been granted to a member of the Balsillie family. However, an internet search of the  Register of all Arms and Bearings in Scotland 1672 - 1907 reveals no recording of a Coat of Arms for any Balsillies. This version may of course been adopted earlier than 1672 and not recorded, or awarded after 1907.

Because Coats of Arms are issued to individuals, there can be a number of different Coats of Arms issued to members bearing a particular family name.

While a Coat of Arms can only be used by an armiger, by tradition, any  member of as clan or sept (a family not bearing the clan surname, but considered as members of the clan) can use the clan badge. The clan badge consists of the crest from the Coat of Arms of the Chief of the Clan, surrounded by a buckled belt, upon which is usually inscribed a Motto.

The Balsillie family badge shown above has been widely accepted as that of the broader Balsillie family. As there is no Balsillie clan, it is not a clan badge. Its origins remain a mystery yet to be solved.. You will note that the crest differs from that shown on the Coat of Arms above. It might be assumed that this badge derived from another Coat of Arms granted to a Balsillie (before 1672 or after 1907) or was simply created and adopted by a member of the family. The crest used in the badge incorporates a naked arm (signifying an industrious person) holding a cross crosslet fitchee (a combination of sword and cross).

By its “home” at Leslie in Fife, and through the Precept of Remission, there is a close family connection with the Leslie Clan. This is strengthened by the incorporation of the Leslie motto “Grip Fast” (sometimes interpreted as “Hold Fast”) in the Balsillie family badge, and by the family’s traditional use of the Leslie Tartan. The Balsillie family is considered by some to be an “unrecognised” sept of the Leslie clan .  If the Balsillie family was to be recognised as a sept of the Leslie clan, its members would be entitled to wear the Leslie Clan Badge.

Link to Court of the Lord Lyon

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