The following piece by Ross McEwen, Shennachie to the Chief of McEwen (his personal arms are below), covers exactly what it means to hold the title ‘Chief of the Name and Arms of ……………..’
He writes:-
The title sounds impressive, but what does it actually mean?
As of 2025 there are approximately 155 lawfully recognised Chiefs, meaning their status as a Chief of a Clan (if they’re Highland) or a Family (if they’re lowland) is legally acknowledged and recognised by the Monarch, currently King Charles III.
If there’s 155 chiefs does that mean 155 different names? Nope, it’s not that straight forward.
While the idea of ‘septs’ is largely an American creation, some Chiefs are considered to be the leader of names in addition to their own, if those names don’t have a chief of their own. For example the Chief of the ancient highland Clan of Gunn, is also considered Chief of the Mansons, and Wilsons, names historically associated with Gunn.
But, can you have more than one chief for one name? Yes you can.
For the name Macleod, there is a principal Chief, Macleod of Macleod (and of Dunvegan) and also two subordinate Chiefs, the Macleod Chief of Lewis and the Macleod Chief of Raasay, how are they also Chiefs?
Because they were the head of Macleods geographically linked to specific places, and so if one’s ancestry as a Macleod was from the isle of Raasay, then you would come under that chief, who in turn holds allegiance to Macleod of Macleod. Those ‘subordinate’ chiefs are still chiefs in their own right, recognised by the King and still wear three feathers. However, they are not the Chiefs of the whole Name of Macleod, they are the Chiefs of a specific sect of Macleod, therefore while the principal chief of Macleod is ‘the chief of the Name and Arms of Macleod’ the two other chiefs are ‘Chiefs of the Name and Arms of Macleod of Raasay’ etc.
This is where location is important when tracing one’s lineage. The name of Fraser similarly has two Chiefs. The Chief of Fraser who is based in Aberdeenshire, and the (more famous, thanks to Outlander and a past Chief’s military efforts in WWII) Chief of Fraser of Lovat, a separate highland clan, distinct from the history and heritage of Fraser ‘proper’.
In that case the Chief of Fraser, Lady Saltoun, is the Chief of the Name and Arms of Fraser, and Lord Lovat, Simon Fraser, is the ‘Chief of the Name and Arms of Fraser of Lovat’. The latter named Frasers, who claim descent from Inverness-shire, would follow Lord Lovat, those from Aberdeenshire and elsewhere would follow Lady Saltoun.
The name of Irvine / Irving is however, uniquely interesting.
Rupert Irving of Bonshaw and Chief’s arms
The first image above shows Rupert Irving of Bonshaw, 20th Chief of the Name and Arms of Irving of Bonshaw, essentially the Irvings (and spelling variants) located in the Scottish Borders.
Alexander Irvine of Drum and Chief’s arms
The other image above shows Alexander Irvine of Drum, 27th Baron of Drum, and 27th Chief of the Name and Arms of Irvine of Drum, an Aberdeenshire Clan who was granted the Barony of Drum by King Robert the Bruce.
Both these gentleman are Chiefs, you can see their coats of arms bear significant resemblance, however one is not ‘above’ the other, given there is no Chief of the Name and Arms of Irving / Irvine, they are territorial Chiefs, representing / from two distinct parts of the country, each with their own history and heritage going back 800 years +.
If you were an Irving with Scottish Borders ancestry, your coat of Arms would be born of Bonshaw, and an Irvine from Aberdeenshire, Irvine of Drum would be your motto and crest. They are both Chiefs.
Sir John R.H McEwen of Marchmont & Bardrochat and Chief’s arms
In MacEwen’s case, we have one Chief for the whole name, while MacEwens have travelled and existed for centuries throughout Scotland, with a few key locations showing disproportionately high numbers of MacEwens, even to this day, given the vast majority of our history never made it to the history books, we have one Chief, of the Name and Arms of MacEwen, the leader for all of that name and the variants whether you are a Campsie McEwen like me, or a Clackmannanshire McEwan like the famous 19th century brewer, or indeed a Paisley McEwen like Society Treasurer Jeff, a New England / Canadian McEwen like Jim McEwen, the entire world’s population of our name, are under one chief.
This makes things a lot simpler, it does somewhat ignore geographical character in one sense however in another it simply means we have a taller task ahead of us to include, research and celebrate everyone’s history and heritage, and to ensure we explore all the areas of Scotland and beyond which have notable MacEwen history, and there’s plenty to speak of.
So, while we have family lines which have existed in Scotland (McEwens of Bardrochat, MacKewans of Muckley, McEwens of Blackhouse, Loaningside, Settie, An Darach, Glenboig, Balgair, Marchmont, Muck, Craigton, Garronhead, Dundarroch, and beyond…) all of these henceforth come under the one Chiefship. This of course should provide a vibrant and interesting umbrella to ensure, as we uncover more of the Clan’s story and forge its future its done so as one global unit.
So, ‘Chief of the Name and Arms’ means the Chief for the whole Name and the bearer of the only senior (chiefly) Coat of Arms for that name.
REVIRESCO!
RMM
Update on Ross
Ross carries two feathers on his bonnet as Shennachie to the Chief of McEwen, and as well as being an armiger, he is the first member of Clan MacEwen since 1987 and only the second MacEwen ever to have a Pennon granted since 1672. The year when Scots Heraldry became regulated. See below:
Carruthers: Chief of the Name and Arms.
In the case of Carruthers, there is only one Chief for the whole family and ALL its derivatives, and only one Chiefly line. Appreciating the chiefship remained dormant for 210 years and extended over five generations, the current Chief, Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains is the 22nd of his line. His ancestry goes back through Carruthers of Mouswald to William de Carruthers whose name was recorded in the reign of Alexander II (1198-1249), with indication of the name existing beyond that.
Peter Carruthers of Holmains and Chief’s Arms
Worst case scenario both Bonshaw and Drum, albeit independent ‘clans’, are branches of the same line originating, according to information from both parties, in Dumfriesshire.
There are no other Scottish clans who fall into this category and most certainly no lowland nor border clan/families, to include Carruthers.
Although sadly, but very occasionally, there are false claimants to the title of Chief, in our case in America. These are so easily researched and proven to be grossly inaccurate and unsubstantiated that we must question why someone would do this, and one can only guess.
However, to reiterate Ross’s comments, in all cases only the Lord Lyon in Scotland can recognise a chief. This is done through the granting of the right to bear the chiefly arms of that name, hence ‘Chief of the Name and Arms, in our case: of Carruthers’.
After nearly two long years and two court cases, the lineage and its proofs were duly analysed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, which in turn led to a Letters Patent being issued by him. The issuance of the Letters Patent to our hereditary chief was given on behalf of the then British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, thus ending 210 years of dormancy of the Carruthers chiefly line.
More than one Chief to a Name.
There are really only two Scottish names, both highland, that are large enough to have more than one chief. These are the clans Donald (MacDonald) and Leod (MacLeod) the latter being discussed above by Ross. However, there is still only one ‘Chief of the Name and Arms’ of each clan who holds the chiefship of the full name rather than over a territorial designation ie McLeod of McLeod and McDonald of McDonald respectively.
But as Ross has pointed out, the case of Bonshaw and Drum is an interesting one as both Chiefs are designated Chief of the Name and Arms of ……., with all the rights and honours that that title entails.
So, Bonshaw and Drum, are they actually the same?
In a correspondence from 2019, with regards the status of both Drum and Bonshaw chiefships, it clearly states that both Bonshaw and Drum are independent of each other, both being headed by a Chief in their own right.
Therefore, accepting the information above, both carry the title of Chief of the Name and Arms of their respective clan/family. Their arms seem to reflect this without any cadency nor indication to suggest that one Chief supersedes the other, but rather both names use territorial designations to differentiate their respective independence.
To further reflect this status, the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, whose membership is by invitation only with a prerequisite that the individual is recognised by the Lord Lyon as Chief, lists both Irving of Bonshaw and Irvine of Drum as chiefs of their individual clans and families.
So, to summerise, if your name is Irving/Irvine etc and your ancestors came from the Scottish borders, Annandale to be precise, then your chief will be ‘of Bonshaw‘ and they will be of proud Reiver stock. If however, your ancestry is from the Highlands of Scotland, ie Aberdeenshire, then your Chief will be ‘of Drum‘.
NB: As an aside, armigers of a clan or family ie those who bear personal arms differenced at least twice from the chiefly arms, do not normally carry supporters. Supporters are not therefore automatic. They are a mark of high rank or distinction, granted only by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The main categories of those entitled include highland clan or lowland/border family/clan Chiefs, Peers of the realm, Knights of certain orders and baronys chartered before 1587, if the family is still on the land.
Interestingly, only a Chief may wear 3 eagle feathers, which in our case were presented to our own chief at his inauguration and proclamation by Rupert Irving of Bonshaw, Chief of the Name and Arms of Irving of Bonshaw. This event was held in our joint ancestral homelands in Annandale and before an audience of dignitaries, other Chiefs and Carruthers from all around the world.
Feathers themselves are a whole different topic, with an armiger entitled to wear one in their bonnet, while the right to wear two comes under the directive and authority of the Chief and is often seen more prevalently these days as a sign of appreciation and respect for and of an officer of the Chief’s Council.
At the end of the day Carruthers are in a strong position going forward, and we hope to retain your continued support for the works we continually do on your behalf behind the scenes.
Promptus et Fidelis
