Arms of the Stars

[Bugbear]

It actually came up in relation to the use of bugs in heraldry, but it seemed like a mildly interesting, and perhaps fun subject. Which famous actors, musicians, popular personalities, even popular writers, et al, have grants of arms?

Absolutely!

This recent (2004) grant to Sir George Martin, Kt., C.B.E. (who produced the Beatles) is an excellent example.

At first I mistranslated it as All you need... Still, I like the martin with the recorder.

Googling is no help. Many people seem to think it DOES say ALL you need is love, but I would argue that it says Love is the only work.

Egeo ( I need )?

Amor solum eges?

Ubi magister est?

That sounds like gosip, MacLowlife...

[SlackerDrummer]

The arms of Sir Paul McCartney:

[Bugbear]

Hmmm, was just probing around on Google for the knighthoods of some of the stars, like Sean Connery, etc... Could throw that in the mix too.

[SlackerDrummer]

The arms of Sir Elton John:

Per saltire gules and or, in fess two pellets pierced and in pale as many plates also pierced, on a chief argent issuant in chief seven pallets retrait two three and two sable.

If I can't find an image I'll draw one in a bit.

[carlb]

Author of the fantastic Discworld series (and thereby creator of the Nac Mac Feegle).

The Arms are blazoned: Sable an ankh between four Roundels in saltire each issuing Argent.

The Crest is Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Sable On Water Barry wavy Sable Argent and Sable an Owl affronty wings displayed and inverted Or supporting thereby two closed Books erect Gules.

[Bugbear]

Thanks for including the blazoning.

[macwilkin]

I've always admired the arms of Douglas Fairbanks Jr., but I can't seem to find the blazon at the moment -- in a nutshell, the arms symbolise the friendship between the US and the UK with a silken knot over blue for the Atlantic Ocean.

And add to the fact that the arimger who bore them was one helluva an actor and a US Navy Beach Jumper.

T.

[Galician]

Bugbear, you are right about the literal translation of Sir George's crest. But that could be taken for a good Latin phrase for what the song title renders in our modern vernacular.

[Bugbear]

It would be interesting to see the wording of that blazoning, Todd, "silken knot over blue."

Thanks, Galician, MacLowlife can rest easy now.
I don't have good Latin skills, if any.

[Cygnus]

These have been posted here before (and I don't know if he's a "star", though he is famous).

The arms of Colin Powell:



The image is from the American College of Heraldry, though the arms are also registered in the Public Register of all Arms and Bearings of Scotland.