I am an armiger, bearing arms granted by Lord Lyon. I inherited them upon the death of my father. He matriculated his arms from those granted to his forebearer.

The process was a wonderful learning process that took place over a roughly 4 0r 5 year period. We petitioned Lord Lyon for a grant of arms to my g-g-g grandfather, Donald McLean, who was born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada in 129. My father then petitioned for a matriculation of those arms in his own name, as a male descendant of Donald.

The Court of the Lord Lyon requires very extensive proofs. You cannot just say that your ancestor was Scottish born and you are the third son of a fourth son of a second son of a Scot. You must produce the documents, so that there is absolutely no doubt who you are, who the ancestor was, and that he fell within the jurisdiction of Lord Lyon. You must, if you are petitioning in memory of an anscestor, have the same surname as that person.

I suggest that you read all of the information available on three websites, so that you are familiar with the whole process. As a member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland and the Society of Scottish Armigers, I would be delighted to assist in any way.

Regards,
Sandford

Sites of note:
http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/l...&p_applic=CCC&

http://www.scotarmigers.net/

http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/index.htm