My last name is Gibson, we don't have clan crest but this is our coat of arms...
Matt,
Coats-of-arms, in Scottish tradition, belong to individuals, not surnames. Most likely this particular C-o-A belong to someone named Gibson. Beware the "family crest" sellers who take arms from various sources and then peddle them with a "family history". In heraldic circles they are called "bucket shops".
A Crest is the very top device, above the helm, on a coat-of-arms. The crest in a clanman's badge is the chief's crest from his arms, and when a clansman or clanswoman wears the badge, they are saying that they are loyal supporters of their Chief. Some clans with no Chief, like th Gunns, wear the crest of last recognized chief.
No offence meant, just that I dealt with this on an almost daily basis as a genealogical librarian. Old habits are hard to break sometimes.
coat of arms...
Originally Posted by timber
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