Confusion about Lord Lyon and the Registry of Tartans

[ThistleDown]

I think you will find that all tartans in Scotland are in the government's Tartans Registry, no matter which of several collections they were registered in previously, and that to register a tartan today what one must do is make application to the Registry and show that there is sufficient difference between the one you wish to register and all others registered. The idea is that eventually all tartans in the world wishing to call themselves "Scottish" will be registered in Scotland.

My understanding is that Lord Lyon, on the other hand and representing HG, registers tartans peculiar to armigers and at the specific request of those armigers. So Angus MacAngus of Angusdale may request that certain variations on the MacAngus of Angusdale tartan be registered as acceptable to him and, by exclusion, others not. As per Argyll.

Rex (too)

[Sketraw]

My understanding is that Lord Lyon, on the other hand and representing HG, registers tartans peculiar to armigers and at the specific request of those armigers. So Angus MacAngus of Angusdale may request that certain variations on the MacAngus of Angusdale tartan be registered as acceptable to him and, by exclusion, others not. As per Argyll.

Rex (too)

Rex, I think you will find that the only tartans recorded at Lyon Court are those of the Chiefs of Clans. perhaps some peers, and others for other reasons but for sure those of the Clan Chiefs.

[ThistleDown]

Yes, you may well be right, Sketraw. The ones I know to be registered with Lyon are "clan" tartans registered by chiefs, in the main to stop unregistered tartans from claiming "clan" status. Hmmm, come to think of it, I do know two armigers (admitedly of 19C record) with tartans in Lyon registry.

The fact that Lyon has/does register tartans at all goes to the question though, and I suspect it is Lyon's own willingness to register some tartans that created the idea in this chap's mind that he could protect his tartan by lodging it somehow with Lyon Court. He can be assured that that will not protect him; look at the plethora of coats of arms sold as though they belong to the "name" and not the individual. Admittedly outwith Scotland, but I suspect that's where the man is.

Rex (too)