Getting a COA registered

[Gregmc]

Ladies and Gents,

I have been looking at many different options on getting a Coat of Arms registered. I have a more than keen interested in having it registered with the Lord Lyon but I have looked at the many different US Heraldic institutions, all private of course, such as the Augustan Society, US College, etc. I actually have the application for the Augustan Society.

My question is this. Will the Lord Lyon give a new grant, not matriculation of arms (stressed here), to someone of Scottish decent? I have tried to ask this question a couple of times to people associated with Scottish COA but they seem to glaze over my question and go into a litany of matriculating arms.

I have looked at the website and it simply says that they AND I QUOTE"
Foreign Countries. Arms are not generally granted to non-British citizens". Of course I read not generally and do not read not ever.

So if someone has some info or knows about this or can give me a point of contact I would be appreciative.

Hello WV,

I have looked over the thread and with repsect to recognition of arms by Lord Lyon; you can have this done. You'll need a geneology proving you to Scotland, or Ulster and then you may apply for a "new Grant of Arms". You'll need a solicitor to prepare the request and help you organize your research material etc. This avenue porvides you with recognized heritable property and will be a fine choice for Scots descent.

If you choose to register arms in the US, you can, and such registration will not be by a recognized heraldic body as the US has none. Your arms will be considered "assumed". Any protection of your achievement will be minimal; unless you go through your secretary of state for a trade mark.

I hope I've been of some help and I wish you luck.

[WVHighlander]

Hello WV,

I have looked over the thread and with repsect to recognition of arms by Lord Lyon; you can have this done. You'll need a geneology proving you to Scotland, or Ulster and then you may apply for a "new Grant of Arms". You'll need a solicitor to prepare the request and help you organize your research material etc. This avenue porvides you with recognized heritable property and will be a fine choice for Scots descent.

If you choose to register arms in the US, you can, and such registration will not be by a recognized heraldic body as the US has none. Your arms will be considered "assumed". Any protection of your achievement will be minimal; unless you go through your secretary of state for a trade mark.

I hope I've been of some help and I wish you luck.

I actually asked the Lyon's office regarding this and they stated it would need to be matriculated OR granted to an ancestor and then matriculated. Unless you know of a point they have not referred to?? I even asked if I would submit DNA proof in addition to genealogy to show a descent from Scotland but I was told the Lyon's office does not accept DNA proof. However, I am all ears as it were if you have additional advice.

[Gregmc]

I actually asked the Lyon's office regarding this and they stated it would need to be matriculated OR granted to an ancestor and then matriculated. Unless you know of a point they have not referred to?? I even asked if I would submit DNA proof in addition to genealogy to show a descent from Scotland but I was told the Lyon's office does not accept DNA proof. However, I am all ears as it were if you have additional advice.

I don't now . . . I was cajoled for years to apply fora new grant bsed on my own design. Secondly, I know of at least one person who registered his arms in South Africa (as a sovereign grant) and then used that grant to apply with Lord Lyon and receive a grant in his own name. I did read Lyon's page on new grants, but that seems to have been changed from the period I'm speaking of (ten years ago). I would contact a solicitor and his his advise. I could be wrong, but my memroy usually serves me very well.

[WVHighlander]

Maybe I will have to re-check then. If you know the name of a good solicitor I am all ears.

[Gregmc]

I actually asked the Lyon's office regarding this and they stated it would need to be matriculated OR granted to an ancestor and then matriculated. Unless you know of a point they have not referred to?? I even asked if I would submit DNA proof in addition to genealogy to show a descent from Scotland but I was told the Lyon's office does not accept DNA proof. However, I am all ears as it were if you have additional advice.

I just heard from lyon's office this morning and here it is:

It is the case that those who do not come directly within the Lord Lyon's jurisdiction but are of provable Scottish descent can petition for a Grant of Arms in name of their Scottish ancestor and then matriculate the Arms in their own name. Arms can only be matriculated where an ancestor had either recorded Arms in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland or who was in right of such Arms. Information on the process involved can be found on our website, and more detail in our leaflet Petitions for Arms which can be downloaded from the website - follow the applying for a coat of arms link on the home page.

I stand corrected.

Good Luck!