The Lord Lyon King of Arms, is the British Monarch’s heraldic authority in Scotland. He is a member of the Scottish judiciary and simply put, he deals with Scottish heraldry and grants or marticulates Scottish arms.
Through this process, the Lyon Clerk, with the assistance of investigative genealogists, examines the petitions of those who would apply for arms. This includes the arms of a chief of a clan or family, which in most cases would have been registered against the name of a historic chief of the line, sometime in the past. He then passes the petition on to the Lord Lyon who will either say yes or no, request further information from the petitioner or request further analysis.
The Lyon’s Act in 1672, brought into play the Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, which was to ensure those not worthy of them, could not bear them. They remain in place, and all Scottish arms are recorded in that register.
Although Carruthers Chief’s arms existed prior to 1672, in order to comply with the act itself and as being deemed a worthy individual to bear personal arms, the Chief at the time; John Carruthers 9th of Holmains and 4th Baron, registered the arms of our Chief as we recognise them today, but without supporters.
In early 2018, two Carruthers petitioners, petitioned the Lord Lyon in competition to bear the Chiefly arms of Carruthers of Holmains. These arms were last borne by John Carruthers, 12th of Holmains and 8th Baron in 1809.
As only a hereditary Chief may bear those arms, the most senior of the genealogical line would be the person confirmed.The petitioners wewre James Andrew Carruthers of Dormont and Dr Peter Simon Carruthers of the Holmains line.
Both petitions were analysed, two hearings were held and Dr Simon Peter Carruthers as the 4 x Great Grandson of John 12th, was not only given the right to the designation ‘of Holmains’, he was confirmed to bear the Chiefly arms of Carruthers, and through the authority vested in the Lord Lyon on behalf of the British Monarch, supporters for his arms. These things are not concluded without great scrutiny, as they are an action carried out by a member of the Scottish judiciary and are thus legal in their process.
The hereditary Clan Chief of the Scottish Border Clan Carruthers is Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers, and his son is the heir of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.
This is by far one of the best videos of just how this legal process is done. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.
Dana Caruthers Norton FSA Scot