Arms consists primarily of the shield, which was historically the main identifying signature of a knight on the battlefield.
As time progressed the arms are accompanied by a helm, a torse/wreath, mantling, a crest and motto, and in the case of the Chief, supporters and a compartment.
In Scottish personal arms, the motto can be seen above the crest. If the motto is carried below, it is English in format.
Arms therefore belong to an individual and do not belong to a family. They should not be used without the armiger’s permission. To do so is both disrespectful and fraudulent.
As the shield can only be used by the chief as his personal arms, Scottish arms are differenced from that of the chiefly arms at least twice. The same motto and crest can be used or changed at the choice of the armiger. If the seraphim is chosen, different representations of the same can be used, but following standard heraldic and religious iconography, it is always shown as six wings, the upper-most and lower-most crossed in saltire, the middle two spread as in flight with an angelic face in the centre. The chief’s arms to include the crest and motto, are over 350 years old and have never changed since its registration in 1672. Its format is therefore an integral part of the Carruthers history.
Formation of Chiefs Arms
It is also noted that the ancient arms of Carruthers and the arms of the last chief of the House of Mouswald, Simon 10th, 5th were combined in homage to their lineage to form the Chiefly arms of Holmains as we know them today.
Seraph/Seraphim or Cherub
The heraldic difference between a Seraphim, as seen on the arms of the Chief and others, and that of the Cherub as seen on the arms of the Mitchell Carruthers, shows there is a clear difference in heraldic depictions of both crests ie Seraph/Seraphim and Cherub and not to be confused with each other. Typical examples are shown to the left and are used throughout depiction of the same.
Living Armigers, their Shields and their full achievement.
NB Unless the clan member is also a member of the Scottish Peerage, only a chief will have supporters and normally these would be the same on either side ie two fallow deer bucks rampant for Holmains. Different supporters on a chiefs arms are usually granted to members of the Scottish/British nobility, which Carruthers are not.
We are currently aware of at least one carruthers who is preparing to petition for arms through the Lord Lyon. If accepted they will be added, beside the othe Carruthers arms, on the Public Record of all Arms and Bearings of Scotland, kept by the Lord Lyon since 1672. Below are the Shields (L) and full achievement of arms (R) of each living Carruthers armiger and an explanation of the different parts of the arms.
FULL ACHIEVEMENT OF ARMS
Below to the left are the Arms of the individual, to the right is their full achievement.
Dr Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers
(Arms recorded/registered with the Lord Lyon 1672)
Arms: Gules two chevrons engrailed between three fleur d-lis Or
Supporters: On a compartment strewn with gorse in flower (ulex europaeus), the plant badge of Carruthers, two fallow deer bucks rampant Proper.
Mantling: Gules doubled Argent
Crest: A Seraphim volant Proper
Motto: Promptis et Fidelis (ready and faithful)
Mr Bruce Nigel Mitchell Carruthers
(Arms first recorded/registered with the Lord Lyon 1876)
Arms: Quarterly first and fourth, Gules two chevrons engrailed between three fleurs d-lis Or, second and third Sable, a fess counter-embattled Argent, between three mascels Or
Mantling: Gules doubled Or
Crest: A Cherubs head Proper
Motto: Promptis et Fidelis (ready and faithful)
Mr James Andrew Carruthers of Dormont
(Arms first recorded/registered with the Lord Lyon 1913)
Arms: Gules two chevronels engrailed between three fleurs d-lis, in a bordure Or
Mantling: Gules doubled Or
Crest: A Seraphim volant Proper
Motto: Promptis et Fidelis (ready and faithful)
Dr George Carruthers FSA Scot
(Arms first recorded/registered with the Lord Lyon 2017)
Arms: Gules two chevronels engrailed between, in chief two fleurs d-lis and in base a pheon Or
Mantling: Gules doubled Or
Crest: The Archangel Michael pinning the beast Proper
Motto: No Sto Solus (I do not stand alone)
Mr Gary Carruthers FSA Scot
(Arms first recorded/registered with the Lord Lyon 2019)
Arms: Gules two chevronels engrailed between two fleurs d-lis in chief and a bell Or in base all within a bordure quarterly of the Second and First charged in 1st & 4th with a crescent and 2nd & 3rd with a star Counter-changed.
Mantling: Gules doubled Or
Crest: A Seraphim volant Proper
Motto: Promptis et Fidelis (ready and faithful)
All Carruthers arms recognised through the ages and those not registered with the Lord Lyon, nor recognised by the Chief or the clan.
RECOGNISED
NOT RECOGNISED
This badge is not representative of Carruthers, nor do the people using it have the rights nor the permission to use the Chiefs arms.
Membership of the Clan Society, authorised by the Chief, can be found HERE
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