Clan Ewing

[Dram]

Does the clan Ewing of Dumbartonshire have a current chief? The U.S. or in Scotland? I cannot find any info on the web.

I want to formally ask for permission to wear a sporran that has their crest affixed (NOT ARMS). I am not a Ewing, and I am sure it won't be a problem, but I would like to do things properly. I would have the crest changed out to my own clan but the item is antique and I don't wish to "disturb" the item just yet in this fashion.

Any contact information would be greatly appreciated.

[Dram]

Also, I might mention that I do have family connections to MacLachlans and I know the Ewings are connected in some way however, they have their own crest.

[campbell]

You are a member of Clan MacEwen. Click on the following website for a list of names associated with your clan.

http://www.clanewen.org/variants/

Good luck.

[Dram]

You are a member of Clan MacEwen. Click on the following website for a list of names associated with your clan.

http://www.clanewen.org/variants/

Good luck.

No, I am not a Ewing. My connection is through MacLachlan. MacLachlans have an entirely different crest (different clan). Some Ewings are MacLachalns however...but not all.

Also I believe there are two branches of Ewing. The crest I am asking permission for is from the Clan Ewing of Dumbartonshire. The crest on the Ewen site you provided is different. Thanks for providing the link as I might be able to contact them about "where" the Ewings of Dumbartonshire are.

Thanks for your help.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

A quick look at Collins SCOTTISH CLAN & FAMILY ENCYCLOPEDIA by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire (now of Rubislaw) shows no recognized chief of the Ewings.

However, even if there was a chief of the Ewings, it would not be strictly necessary to obtain permission to display the crest on your sporran. What is not generally known is that, unlike arms, crests are not unique to a single individual. In addition to Ewing, the crest of a demi-lion rampant holding in its dexter paw a star is also used by twenty other families. So, as a strictly "historical" item there is nothing to prevent you from wearing the sporran.

However, since a crest (in and of itself) can not exist without a coat of arms, you may not "adopt it" as your crest unless you first receive a substantive grant of arms. You may do this by applying for a grant of arms from one of the following heraldic authorities: the Bureau of Heraldry in the Republic of South Africa; the Chief Herald of Canada; the Court of the Lord Lyon; the Chief Herald of Ireland; or (in exceptional circumstances) the College of Arms in London.

As part of that grant you may request as your crest the demi-lion on your sporran, as used by Alvares, Craig, Dillon, Elstob, Eurn, Frew, Gladhill, Henlock, Holburne, Hulburn, Inglis, Lamb, Lambe, Liddell, Lidell, Liddiard, Roberts, Stable, Starr, St. Lyz, and yes, Ewing.

[BEEDEE]

Try this link:

http://www.ewingfamilyassociation.org/index.html

which I got from:

http://oursoutherncousins.com/ewing.html

Also, since this has to do more with heraldry than clans I am moving the thread to the Heraldry section.

Brian

[Dram]

A quick look at Collins SCOTTISH CLAN & FAMILY ENCYCLOPEDIA by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire (now of Rubislaw) shows no recognized chief of the Ewings.

However, even if there was a chief of the Ewings, it would not be strictly necessary to obtain permission to display the crest on your sporran. What is not generally known is that, unlike arms, crests are not unique to a single individual. In addition to Ewing, the crest of a demi-lion rampant holding in its dexter paw a star is also used by twenty other families. So, as a strictly "historical" item there is nothing to prevent you from wearing the sporran.

However, since a crest (in and of itself) can not exist without a coat of arms, you may not "adopt it" as your crest unless you first receive a substantive grant of arms. You may do this by applying for a grant of arms from one of the following heraldic authorities: the Bureau of Heraldry in the Republic of South Africa; the Chief Herald of Canada; the Court of the Lord Lyon; the Chief Herald of Ireland; or (in exceptional circumstances) the College of Arms in London.

As part of that grant you may request as your crest the demi-lion on your sporran, as used by Alvares, Craig, Dillon, Elstob, Eurn, Frew, Gladhill, Henlock, Holburne, Hulburn, Inglis, Lamb, Lambe, Liddell, Lidell, Liddiard, Roberts, Stable, Starr, St. Lyz, and yes, Ewing.

Thank you. That clears quite a bit up for me. Just wanted to make sure I did things in a correct manner.

As far as arms are concerend I will not anytime soon be requesting a grant, as the expense is simply too much (maybe someday).

I contacted the College of Arms years ago, as one of my ancestors was a baron and I wished to see if the Arms were available. If I recall correctly the price to recieve his arms was approaching 3,000 USD or more.

I suppose if I had expendable cash it might be something interesting to hang on the wall, but as an American, born and raised (and it really having no meaning here), I could not justify that kind of out-lay. Perhaps when I retire or maybe I could take up a family collection!!!

[macwilkin]

I suppose if I had expendable cash it might be something interesting to hang on the wall, but as an American, born and raised (and it really having no meaning here), I could not justify that kind of out-lay. Perhaps when I retire or maybe I could take up a family collection!!!

This is an oft-repeated myth, that somehow arms have no meaning in the USA, which is simply not true. Think of all of the arms of cities, counties, states and even the "Great Seal of the Republic", not to mention that there are many private citizens who are also armigers, including our first President and a number of his successors:

http://americanheraldry.org/pages/in...n=Main.Notable

The US Army even maintains its own heraldic department to regulate the use of devices which are used by various units.

Time to but this old myth out to pasture.

T.

[Dram]

This is an oft-repeated myth, that somehow arms have no meaning in the USA, which is simply not true. Think of all of the arms of cities, counties, states and even the "Great Seal of the Republic", not to mention that there are many private citizens who are also armigers, including our first President and a number of his successors:

http://americanheraldry.org/pages/in...n=Main.Notable

The US Army even maintains its own heraldic department to regulate the use of devices which are used by various units.

Time to but this old myth out to pasture.

T.

Okay. Can I borrow $3,000.00 from you?

[macwilkin]

Okay. Can I borrow $3,000.00 from you?

You don't need to. Some heraldic scholars believe that since America has no official heraldic authority like the Lyon Court or the College of Arms, American citizens may "assume" their own arms as long as they do not usurp someone else's achievement. This is still not a popular idea, and such assumed arms would never be recognised in the UK, but not all European nations heraldic customs are as strict as those found in the British Isles, especially Scotland.

You may also register your arms with other heraldic organisations, such as the Bureau of Heraldry in the Republic of South Africa, or the New England Genealogical & Historical Society's Committee on Heraldry.

T.