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Family
Crests |
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Coat of Arms |
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Genealogy |
Family Crests
Family Crests are part of the heraldic display, and often confused with the family or clan coat of arms or shield. Originally he family crests were painted on fans of metal atop a helmet (see top image at left) and were later fashioned from leather and other light weight materials. The crests were also often reproduced on the coat of arms and the shields which has helped foster the confusion (take note that the boars head in the image to the left is reproduced in the upper left quadrant of the shield).
Another popular misconception is that family crests may not be worn by non-family or clan members. This is only true in part, as non family or clan members may wear the crest inside of a belt and buckle badge (see lower image at left) to show support for the family while not actually belonging to the family or clan, such as the serfs in a feudal system.
MacKinnon (McKinnon) Family Crests
The family crests and badge depicted to the left are of the Clan MacKinnon, of which I am relatively certain I am descended. In both of the crests is the motto "Audentes Fortuna Juvat" which translates to "Fortune Assists the Daring", which is somewhat ironic considering the family lands have been lost.
The family crest depicts a boars head with a deer shank bone in its mouth - this was taken from an account of an encounter the clan chief had on a hunting excursion. He had taken shelter for the night in a cave, where he built a fire and was preparing his dinner of venison. He looked up to see a wild boar, which are notoriously vicious, in the entrance to the cave. In his hand he held a large bone from which he was cutting slices of meat. As the beast charged into him, he dropped the knife but retained the shank, so he thrust the bone into the gnashing mouth of the beast until he could recover his knife and slit the animals throat.
