got a tattoo?

[EagleJCS]

I'm not an expert, but I have read quite a bit about heraldry. From what I've read, the 'crest' is technically the device above the shield and helmet - in your case, nh_mclean, the tower - with the wreath (a roll of cloth on top of the helmet, which is missing in nh_mclean's case). The 'coat of arms' is the entire picture (officially called an 'Achievement', per Lord Lyon's website) - the crest, the wreath, the helmet, the shield, any supporters (figures to the sides of the shield), decorations, and the ribbon with the motto. With Scottish clansmen, the crest (and wreath) goes inside the 'strap-and-buckle' to signify their allegiance to the clan/clan chief (with the motto on the strap).

That leads me to ask, Paul., which were you planning on getting, the crest or the coat of arms? In Scotland, you should remember, the coat of arms belongs to an indivual (an armiger), not a family. The crest thus also belongs to the armiger, and putting the crest (with strap-and-buckle, a la the crest badge) or coat of arms on any object (including yourself, I would suppose) would mean that that object belongs to the armiger. If prosecuted for it, wearing/using (usurping) someone else's coat of arms/crest is punishable by a fine and confiscation of the item(s) bearing the arms - in your case, wherever you have the tattoo placed. Yikes!

Not to put down your enthusiasm for getting a tat. Perhaps your famiily name and/or something personally symbolic would be better?

[Chas]

I'm not an expert, but I have read quite a bit about heraldry. From what I've read, the 'crest' is technically the device above the shield and helmet - in your case, nh_mclean, the tower - with the wreath (a roll of cloth on top of the helmet, which is missing in nh_mclean's case). The 'coat of arms' is the entire picture (officially called an 'Achievement', per Lord Lyon's website) - the crest, the wreath, the helmet, the shield, any supporters (figures to the sides of the shield), decorations, and the ribbon with the motto. With Scottish clansmen, the crest (and wreath) goes inside the 'strap-and-buckle' to signify their allegiance to the clan/clan chief (with the motto on the strap).

That leads me to ask, Paul., which were you planning on getting, the crest or the coat of arms? In Scotland, you should remember, the coat of arms belongs to an indivual (an armiger), not a family. The crest thus also belongs to the armiger, and putting the crest (with strap-and-buckle, a la the crest badge) or coat of arms on any object (including yourself, I would suppose) would mean that that object belongs to the armiger. If prosecuted for it, wearing/using (usurping) someone else's coat of arms/crest is punishable by a fine and confiscation of the item(s) bearing the arms - in your case, wherever you have the tattoo placed. Yikes!

Not to put down your enthusiasm for getting a tat. Perhaps your famiily name and/or something personally symbolic would be better?

I totally agree - there is no such thing as a 'family crest'. Paul, if you lived in the US, you could get away with it. But you don't, you live in Scotland, where the granting of arms is a legal process and is protected by law. A coat of arms in Scotland is deemed to be private property and a man using (usurping) arms that are not his own as if they were his own, is guilty of theft. That is not my interpretation - that is the law.

Go here, and read Lord Lyon's site before you make any mistakes:

http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/CCC_FirstPage.jsp

Regards

Chas

[Paul]

I'm not an expert, but I have read quite a bit about heraldry. From what I've read, the 'crest' is technically the device above the shield and helmet - in your case, nh_mclean, the tower - with the wreath (a roll of cloth on top of the helmet, which is missing in nh_mclean's case). The 'coat of arms' is the entire picture (officially called an 'Achievement', per Lord Lyon's website) - the crest, the wreath, the helmet, the shield, any supporters (figures to the sides of the shield), decorations, and the ribbon with the motto. With Scottish clansmen, the crest (and wreath) goes inside the 'strap-and-buckle' to signify their allegiance to the clan/clan chief (with the motto on the strap).

That leads me to ask, Paul., which were you planning on getting, the crest or the coat of arms? In Scotland, you should remember, the coat of arms belongs to an indivual (an armiger), not a family. The crest thus also belongs to the armiger, and putting the crest (with strap-and-buckle, a la the crest badge) or coat of arms on any object (including yourself, I would suppose) would mean that that object belongs to the armiger. If prosecuted for it, wearing/using (usurping) someone else's coat of arms/crest is punishable by a fine and confiscation of the item(s) bearing the arms - in your case, wherever you have the tattoo placed. Yikes!

Not to put down your enthusiasm for getting a tat. Perhaps your famiily name and/or something personally symbolic would be better?

Hi EagleJCS. It's the crest I'm getting - but within a heart.
Ive also taken the Irish crown out of the crest and placed it ontop for a design feature at centre-top. So doesnt that mean technically it's not the crest - therefore I'm not stealing it?