https://youtu.be/hkCbm4HH8ug?si=pfKlitK1vRV41aBn
Scottish heraldry is highly respected worldwide, through its robust registration and granting process. It has come under the auspices of the office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms since 1672 and the initiation of the Public Records of all Arms and Bearings of Scotland. It is in this register that all Scottish arms are recorded.
In Scotland an individual retains ownership of their arms and not a name, as such all arms are differenced from that of a chief/senior of that name, if one exists or existed, by at least twice. However, only the Lord Lyon can grant an individual the right to bear the chiefly arms of a Scottish family or clan and only after robust analysis of the evidence.
As such, the respect for the office itself extends to wherever heraldry is appreciated. With this in mind, this piece taken from the American College of Heraldry site speaks volumes.
We offer our sincerest congratulations to Dr Joe Morrow.
American College of Heraldry
We are delighted to announce that the position of Distinguished Fellow of the College has been offered to, and accepted by, Dr Joseph John Morrow, CVO, CBE, QC, LLD, DL, FRSE, The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, on 23 October 2025.
Dr Morrow was appointed to the office on 17 January 2014 and sworn in before the Lord President of the Court of Session on 27 February 2014. A member of the Faculty of Advocates, Dr Morrow took silk in September 2015. In 2008 he was appointed President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland from which post he retired in 2019. He has previously served as Her Majesty’s Commissioner for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (1999-2006), as a First-tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (2002-2013), and as President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (2010-2014).
In 2009 he was appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee, having served as a Labour councillor for the Maryfield ward until that year. He held the positions of Convenor of the Economic Development Committee and Convenor of the Dundee Waterfront Development Board, and was Depute Lord Provost during his time as an elected member.
He is the incumbent of the Chapel of Glamis Castle, a former Chancellor of the Diocese of Brechin, and an Honorary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee. Lyon Morrow was created CBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2018 for Services to Mental Health and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2019 and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2024. He was created CVO by King Charles III for services on the Demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Dr Morrow’s personal armorial bearings, as shown marshalled with those of the Office of Lord Lyon, were registered with the College on 15 June 2022 under Number 4500, the arms blazoned to wit: Per fess enhanced Or and Purpure overall all three piles conjoined in point counter-changed, the centre pile charged with a maunch (mauche) and the other two with passion crosses of the first. For crest, he has A dexter hand Or holding a dagger erect Purpure hilted and pomelled Or, and for motto: Deo Volente (‘God Willing’). The supporters are sea- eagles crowned with the crown of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
