MacInnes crest/coat of arms tattoo

**chihawks35** · 12th January 15, 04:25 PM

To start out I hope im posting in the right place. But my last name is McInnis. All the males in our family decided to get a tattoo to go back to our scottish heritage. Now from what I'm understanding from the Court of Lord Lyon is that I cannot use my crest because there isn't an active chief. Now I have spoken to the president at macinnes.org and he said that I was more than welcome to use their crest/arms because they have chosen to let anyone with the surname MacInnes use theirs. Now what I'm having a difficult time with is if I use their newely issued crest am I really honoring my families heritage or just the heritage of tht association.

I'm really having a dilemma with this because we were all dead set on getting what we thought was out coat of arms but after researching I learned that your coat of arms has nothing to do with a family but a single person.

Here is their newly issued crest http://macinnes.org/crests/newcrest2.jpg

Here is their newely issued coat http://macinnes.org/crests/shieldnew.jpg

Thanks in advance.

**Father Bill** · 12th January 15, 04:39 PM

Welcome to the "Great Rabble!"

Would you permit the moderators to do a simple edit to make your links live?

**chihawks35** · 12th January 15, 04:39 PM

Sure that's fine

**Father Bill** · 12th January 15, 04:47 PM

Done! Don't use the coat of arms - use the crest!

**chihawks35** · 12th January 15, 04:49 PM

That what were thinking however it's kind of the lack of direct association with my actual family that's deterring me from getting it. We're actually all meeting up this weekend to talk about it

**David Dubh** · 12th January 15, 04:54 PM

My understanding is that you use the crest with the belt and buckle around it (that is what my MacDonald) tattoo is. The coat of arms belongs to an individual (the clan chief) and is not to be used without permission.
Regards David
welcome to xmarks

**chihawks35** · 12th January 15, 04:58 PM

Yes I believe that to be the truth as well however since there isnt a chief for the clan it's technically illegal to use it. Now those new ones I posted above since I have permission to use them I believe it would be lawful.

**Father Bill** · 12th January 15, 05:01 PM

You may have permission from the Clan Association... but they are emphatically neither the clan, nor the clan's spokespersons. They're just a club for members of the clan. Only the chief can give permission. Ever. For any clan. Always. I'm surprised at anyone from a clan association making such a blunder.

No chief, no permission, no coat of arms... but the clan crest with buckler is absolutely appropriate!

**chihawks35** · 12th January 15, 05:07 PM

Yes Im sorry we were talking about the crest when they gave permission not the coat. Sorry for lack of clarification. So the crest is OK then. Now I would have to use the associations correct. Due to the fact that there isn't a chief? Because this is a different motto than the Macinnes.ctes of malagawatch crest we have in plaque form showing this mottohttp://www.scotclans.com/img/scottish_clans/macinnes/crest_big.gif

**Downunder Kilt** · 12th January 15, 05:16 PM

An individuals coat of arms belong to him, it is his property and should not be usurped/stolen by others. The only person that can wear/use that CoA is the owner. They cannot be given away and others cannot use them even with permission of the owner. Corporate coats of arms as is the case of the CoA you are referring to, belong to the organisation that has applied for and been granted them by the Lord Lyon (in the case of Scottish Arms. The owner in this case gives permission to others to use the arms. They are the arms of the organisation however, not the arms of the clan. As DD said above , use the crest with the belt and buckle around it