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THE CREIGHTON COAT OF ARMS
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The Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms officiates over all heraldry for Scotland. Our Coat of Arms and name is recorded in Scotland as family Crichton, but the two names Creighton/Crichton are interchangeable from time immemorial. As I have shown it here, it represents the Full Achievement *, and each part is a separate honor given the family for services to the nation.
The description given in Scottish Clans & Family
Encyclopedia, under
Member Clans of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs are:
ARMS
Argent, a lion rampant Azure,
armed and languid Gules CREST
A dragon (green) spouting out
fire proper MOTTOGod send grace SUPPORTERSTwo lions Azure, armed and
crowned Or BARONIAL CORONET
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Each word has a prescribed
meaning; the final artistic representation has guidelines but is up to the
artist to depict. The actual coat of arms is the shield only, going back to when
his shield in battle was a Knight’s identification. The Crest was worn as a
metal broachor badge oras a helmet (or hat) pin, and included the family motto
if there was one.
·
Argent-the background color of the
“field” of the shield-in this case silver or white. To this is added an
engrailed border, also Azure blue, for Creighton. ·
A lion rampant, Azure-a
blue charging lion. ·
Armed and languid Gules-
displaying red talons and teeth, red tongue extended. ·
A dragon spouting out fire
proper- a
green dragon, according to the UK Master
of Arms. ·
God send grace-
same, but always with crest. ·
Supporters- these are additions to a
coat of arms, usually to commemorate specific deeds or functions that are
note-worthy to a family. They are always found standing at each side of the
shield, “supporting it”. To the Supporters were added other “achievements”, in
our case the gold crowns. ·
Two lions Azure armed and
crowned Or-
two blue lions with talons and teeth displayed, wearing gold crowns.
The honor of our letting the
family display the crowned lion supporters references the long-standing service
of the Creighton/Crighton family to the reigning Monarchs of Scotland. They were
councilors, Chamberlains, Barons, Regents and Governors of both Edinburgh City
and Edinburgh Castle. The crown is the Royal Scottish crown, indicating
outstanding service to the Royal House. ·
BARONIAL CORONET -
A gold coronet topped with 4-silver balls, sitting on top of shield below the
helmet, set on a bed of ermine. This coronet honors the past baronial status of
the family.
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The Creighton Badge
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What about the Creighton clan and tartan?
The Creighton family is not a
clan as defined by Scottish tradition, and such does not have a clan tartan.
Because it is a famous chieftainship, it has the rights to wear the City of
Edinburgh Tartan because of past family service. Also because of our ties to
other clans, we can wear the tartans of those clans shown below. The family
Crichton has been one of the primary members on the Council of Scottish Chiefs
for many years. The current Chief of the family is descended from the Crichtons
of Frendraught and lives at his splendid Castle of Monzie near Crieff, in
central Scotland.
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City of Edinburgh Tartan ·
Clan Mackenzie Tartan (doubly
so for the J. L. Creighton line) ·
Clan McEwen Tartan ·
Clan MacKay (Sept Magee) Tartan ·
Canadian Provincial Tartans
(New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, etc).
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