List of Scottish clans

Clan map of Scotland

The following is a list of Scottish clans (with and without chiefs) – including, when known, their heraldic crest badges, tartans, mottoes, and other information.

The crest badges used by members of Scottish clans are based upon armorial bearings recorded by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland. The blazon of the heraldic crest is given, and the heraldic motto with its translation into English. While all the crest badges of the clan names listed are recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, only about one half of these (about 140) have a clan chief who is acknowledged by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as the rightful claimant of the undifferenced arms upon which the crest badges are based.

Scottish crest badges are heraldic badges used by members of Scottish clans to show their allegiance to a specific clan or clan chief. Even though they are commonly used by clan members, the heraldic crest and motto within the crest badge belong only to the clan chief – never the clan member. A Scottish clan member's crest badge is made up of a heraldic crest, encircled by a strap and buckle which contains a heraldic motto. In most cases, both crest and motto are derived from the crest and motto of the chief's coat of arms. Crest badges intended for wear as cap badges are commonly made of silver or some other metal such as pewter. In the case of armigers they wear their own crest within a plain circlet showing their own motto or slogan, not a belt and buckle showing the chief's. Women may wear a crest badge as a brooch to pin a sash of their clan tartan at the right shoulder of their gown or blouse. Female clan chiefs, chieftains, or the wives of clan chiefs normally wear a tartan sash pinned at their left shoulder.

Today, Scottish crest badges are commonly used by members of Scottish clans. However, much like clan tartans, Scottish crest badges do not have a long history, and owe much to Victorian era romanticism, and the dress of the Highland regiments. Scottish crest badges have only been worn by clan members on the bonnet since the 19th century.

  Highland and Island clans

  Lowland and Border clans

Clan name	Crest badge	Clan tartan	Blazon of crest & motto within crest badge; war cry and plant badge	Clan chief; and clan seat, or historical seat	Notes
Abercromby			Crest: A falcon rising belled Proper. Motto: Petit alta [Latin, 'He seeks high deeds']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Abercrombie, Fife
Abernethy			Crest: A raven sable, beaked and membered gules. Motto: Salus per Christum [Latin, 'Salvation through Christ']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Abernethy, Perth and Kinross
Adair			Crest: A man's head couped and bloody. Motto: Loyal au mort [French, 'Loyal unto death']	Chief: none, armigerous clan	The crest and motto are derived from the arms of Adair of Kinhilt.
Adam			Crest: A cross crosslet fitchée gules surmounted by a sword in saltire Proper Motto: Crux mihi grata quies [Latin, 'The cross gives me welcome rest']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Blair Adam, estate in Kinross-shire
Agnew			Crest: An eagle issuant and reguardant Proper. Motto: Consilio non petu [Latin, 'By wisdom not force']	Chief: Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, 11th Baronet Seat: Lochnaw Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
Aikenhead			Crest: A demi-savage holding in his dexter hand three laurel slips fructed Proper Motto: Rupto robore nati [Latin, 'We are born in a weak condition']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Aikenhead, Lanarkshire
Ainslie			Crest: Issuing out of a cap of maintenance a naked arm embowed grasping a scymitar all Proper Motto: Pro patria saepe pro rege semper [Latin, 'For country often, for king always']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Dolphinstone Castle (ruin), Jedburgh
Aiton			Crest: A hand pulling a rose Proper Motto: Decerptae dabunt odorum [Latin, 'Roses plucked will give sweet smell']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Ayton, Berwickshire
Allardice			Crest: A demi-savage holding in the dexter hand a scimitar all Proper Motto: In defence of the distressed	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Allardice Castle, Kincardineshire
Anderson			Crest: An oak tree Proper.{Lyon Court Records 1673/5: Book 1, folio 239 as recorded for James Anderson of Westerairdbreck and also grant by Lord Lyon 20 March 1992 book 73, folio 78: to David Alexander Richard Waterton-Anderson, a descendant of the original grantee} Motto: Stand sure, as witnessed by armorial stones at Westerton, Banffshire dated 1664 and Botriphnie dated 1671; also by grant of Lord Lyon 20 March 1992 book 73, folio 78 to David Alexander Richard Waterton-Anderson.	Chief: none, armigerous clan	This motto has been used by the leading house of Andersons from at least 1664 and adopted for use as a clan member's crest badge
Anstruther			Crest: Two arms in armour holding a pole-axe with both hands gauntleted Proper. Motto: Periissem ni periissem [Latin, 'I would have perished had I not persisted']	Chief: Tobias Anstruther of that Ilk Seat: Balcaskie House, Fife	In note No. 12 of Waverley, Sir Walter Scott, while discussing canting of arms in heraldry wrote, "The Periissem ni per-iissem of the Anstruthers is liable to a similar objection. One of that ancient race, finding that an antagonist, with whom he had fixed a friendly meeting, was determined to take the opportunity of assassinating him, prevented the hazard by dashing out his brains with a battle-axe. Two sturdy arms, brandishing such a weapon, form the usual crest of the family, with the above motto, Periissem ni per-iissem—'I had died, unless I had gone through with it'".
Arbuthnott			Crest: A peacock's head couped at the neck Proper. Motto: Laus Deo [Latin, 'Praise God']	Chief: Keith Arbuthnott 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott Seat: Arbuthnott House, Arbuthnott, Aberdeenshire
Armstrong			Crest: An arm from the shoulder, armed Proper. Motto: Invictus maneo [Latin, 'I remain unvanquished']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Gilnockie Tower, Dumfries and Galloway
Arnott				Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Arnott, Portmoak in Kinross-shire
Arthur			Crest: Two laurel branches in orle Proper. Motto: Fide et opera [Latin, 'By fidelity and labour'] Plant badge: wild myrtle (bog myrtle), or fir club moss	Chief: John Alexander MacArthur of that Ilk Seat: Castle Kennedy House, Castle Kennedy, Wigtownshire
Auchinleck			Crest: An ear of rye Proper Motto: Pretiosum quod utile [Latin, 'What is useful is valuable']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Auchinleck
Baillie			Crest: A boar's head erased Proper. Motto: Quid clarius astris [Latin, 'What is brighter than the stars']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Baird			Crest: A gryphon's head erased Proper. Motto: Dominus fecit [Latin, 'The Lord has done this']	Chief: none	In August 2019 Sir James Baird, 11th Bt. of Saughtonhall petitioned for the Chiefship. Petition under review as of Summer 2021. Also in August 2019 Richard Holman Baird was commissioned commander to serve a term up to 5 years.
Balfour			Crest: A dexter arm in armour erect the hand holding a baton in bend gules tipped argent Motto: Fordward [Scots, 'Forward']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Burleigh Castle
Bannatyne			Crest: A demi griffin, in his dexter paw a sword erect Proper. Motto: Nec cito nec tarde [Latin, 'Neither fast nor slow']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Bannerman			Crest: A demi man in armour holding in his right hand a sword Proper. Motto: Pro patria [Latin, 'For my country']	Chief: David Gordon Bannerman of Elsick, 15th Baronet	The ancestors of the Bannermans were hereditary banner-bearers to the kings of Scotland.
Barclay			Crest: (On a chapeau doubled ermine) a hand holding a dagger Proper. Motto: Aut agere aut mori [Latin, 'Either to do or die']	Chief: Peter Barclay of Towie Barclay and of that Ilk Seat: Towie Barclay Castle, Aberdeenshire
Baxter			Crest: A lion rampant guardant sable Motto: Vincit veritas [Latin, 'Truth prevails']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Bell			Crest: Viz. azure, three bells, the crest, a hand holding a dagger, paleways proper, with the motto, "I beir the bel." Motto: I beir the bel	Chief: in the process, armigerous clan. Seat: Middlebie
Belshes			Crest: A greyhound's head couped argent collared azure. Motto: Fulget virtus intaminata [Latin, 'Virtue shines unstained']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Bethune			Crest: An otter's head erased argent. Motto: De bonnaire [French, 'Gracious']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Beveridge			Crest: Out of a mural crown Or a demi beaver Proper Motto: Perseverando [Latin, 'By persevering']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Brucefield, estate in Fife
Binning				Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Barony of Binning, in the parish of Uphall, West Lothian
Bissett			Crest: The trunk of an oak tree sprouting afresh Proper Motto: Abscissa virescit [Latin, 'That torn down regrows']	Chief: none, armigerous clan	The chiefly line is thought to be Bisset of Lessendrum.
Blackadder				Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Old Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fife
Blackstock				Chief: none, armigerous clan
Blair			Crest: A stag lodged Proper Motto: Amo probos [Latin, 'I love the virtuous']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Blair, Ayrshire
Blane			Crest: The sword of Justice paleways Proper Motto: Pax aut bellum [Latin, 'Peace or war']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Blyth				Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Lauderdale
Borthwick			Crest: A moor's head couped Proper wreathed argent and sable. Motto: Qui conducit [Latin, 'He who leads']	Chief: John Hugh Borthwick of that Ilk, 24th Lord Borthwick Seat: Borthwick Castle, Lothian
Boswell			Crest: A falcon Proper, hooded gules, jessed and belled Or Motto: Vraye foi [Middle French, 'True faith']	Chief: none, armigerous clan
Boyd			Crest: A dexter hand erect and pale having the outer fingers bowed inwards. Motto: Confido [Latin, 'I trust']	Chief: Robin Jordan Boyd, 8th Baron Kilmarnock Seat: Dean Castle, Ayrshire	Alastair Boyd, 7th Baron Kilmarnock died 19 March 2009, but references continue to list him as Chief: see Burks, Standing council, and only House of Boyd aka Clan Boyd has updated information regarding their Chief Boyd clan web site
Boyle			Crest: A double headed eagle displayed, parted per pale embattled gules and argent. Motto: Dominus providebit [Latin, 'The Lord will provide']	Chief: Patrick Robin Archibald Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow Seat: Kelburn Castle, North Ayrshire
Brisbane			Crest: A stork's head erased holding in her beak a serpent nowed Proper Motto: Dabit otia Deus [Latin, 'God will give repose']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Killincraig, Largs, North Ayrshire
Brodie			Crest: A right hand holding a bunch of arrows all Proper. Motto: Unite Plant badge: periwinkle	Chief: Alexander Tristan Duff Brodie of Brodie Seat: Brodie Castle, Morayshire
Broun			Crest: A lion rampant, holding in the dexter paw a fleur de lis Or Floreat magestas (Let majesty flourish) Motto: Floreat magestas [Latin, 'Let majesty flourish']	Chief: Sir Wayne Broun of Coultson, Bt. Seat: Colstoun House, East Lothian
Bruce			Crest: A lion stantan azure armed and langued gules. Motto: Fuimus [Latin, 'We have been'] Plant badge: rosemary	Chief: Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin Seat: Broomhall House, Dunfermline
Buchan			Crest: (upon a chapeau gules furred ermine) A sun shining upon a sunflower full blown Proper. Motto: Non inferiora secutus [Latin, 'Not having followed mean pursuits']	Chief: David Buchan of Auchmacoy Seat: Auchmacoy House, Aberdeenshire
Buchanan			Crest: A dexter hand holding up a ducal cap (Proper), tufted on the top with a rose gules, within two laurel branches in orle (also Proper). Motto: Clarior hinc honos [Latin, 'Hence the brighter honour'] Plant badge: bilberry (blaeberry), oak, or birch	Chief: John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan of that Ilk and of Arnprior. Seat: Cambusmore House, Callander, Stirlingshire	Lord Lyon, King of Arms, granted the petition for Chief of the Name and Arms of Buchanan in August 2018.
Butter			Crest: Two hands issuing from a cloud in dexter, extended to the sinister and drawing an arrow in a bow all Proper Motto: Diriget Deus [Latin, 'God directs']	Chief: none, armigerous clan Seat: Fascally, by Pitlochry,