Court of the Lord Lyon

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Court of the Lord Lyon

The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court

Court

A court is a body, often a government institution, with the authority to adjudication legal disputes and dispense private law, criminal justice, or administrative law justice in accordance with rules of law....
of law which regulates heraldry

Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning Coat of arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms....
in Scotland

Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
. Like the College of Arms

College of Arms

The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
in England

England

Coat of arms

A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, in European tradition, is a design belonging to a particular person and used by them in a wide variety of ways....
, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland

Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland

The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland was established by Act of Parliament of the Scottish Parliament in 1672. The register is held at the Court of the Lord Lyon and contains every grant of coat of arms since that date....
, as well as records of genealogies.

The Lyon Court is a public body, and the fees for grants of arms are paid to HM Treasury

HM Treasury

HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy....
.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Court of the Lord Lyon'

Start a new discussion about 'Court of the Lord Lyon'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court

Court

Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning Coat of arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms....
in Scotland

Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
. Like the College of Arms

College of Arms

The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
in England

England

Coat of arms

Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland

HM Treasury

Lord Lyon King of Arms

The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officer of State in Scotland and is the Scotland official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in d...
, who must be legally qualified, as he has criminal jurisdiction in heraldic matters, and the court is fully integrated into the Scottish legal system, including having a dedicated prosecutor, known in Scotland as a Procurator Fiscal

Procurator Fiscal

A procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland, also carrying out some of the investigatory functions done by the coroner in other legal systems but not any eventual Fatal Accident Inquiry....
. This contrasts with England, where the College of Arms

College of Arms

The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
is a private body, and the Court of Chivalry

Court of Chivalry

Her Majesty's High Court of Chivalry of England and Wales is a civil court in England. It has had jurisdiction in cases of the misuse of heraldry arms since the fourteenth century....
, which is a civil court, has met only once in 230 years, in 1954 .

Leadership and administration

The head of the Lyon Court is Lord Lyon King of Arms

Lord Lyon King of Arms

The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officer of State in Scotland and is the Scotland official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in d...
. Only two of the heralds work full time, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records

Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records

Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records is an heraldry office in Scotland. The holder of this office is appointed by the Crown, and like the Lord Lyon King of Arms receives an annual salary....
, a post currently held by Elizabeth Roads, Carrick Pursuivant

Carrick Pursuivant

Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in ordinary. The title is derived from the Earl of Carrick, one of the titles borne by Robert the Bruce before his succession to the crown....
. The holders of these two positions are paid a salary as public officials. Up to six officers of arms in ordinary, herald

Herald

A herald, or, more correctly, a herald of arms, is an Officer of Arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is often applied erroneously to all officers of arms....
s and pursuivant

Pursuivant

A Pursuivant, or more correctly a pursuivant of arms, is a junior Officer of Arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official Heraldry authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh....
s, assist these two officers, mostly in matters of state ceremonial.

As of November 2008 Officers of Arms in Scotland are:

Position	Name
Lord Lyon King of Arms Lord Lyon King of Arms The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officer of State in Scotland and is the Scotland official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest heraldic court in the world that is still in d...	David Sellar David Sellar William David Hamilton Sellar is a Scottish solicitor and officer of arms. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in history and the University of Edinburgh with a degree in law....
Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary Albany Herald Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scotland Officer of Arms. The office was first mentioned in a diplomatic mission from Scotland to England in 1401....	John Alexander Spens
Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary Ross Herald Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scotland Officer of Arms. The title of the office is derived from the Earl of Ross.The present Ross Herald is Charles John Burnett....	Charles John Burnett
Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary Rothesay Herald Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scotland Officer of Arms. The office was created after 1398 when the Duke of Rothesay of Rothesay, Argyll and Bute was conferred on David, eldest son of Robert III of Scotland, on 28 April 1398....	Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Sir Crispin Hamlyn Agnew of Lochnaw, 11th Baronet Queen's Counsel is an Advocate, Officer of Arms former explorer and Clan Agnew.The eleventh holder of a 1629 title in the baronetcy of List of baronetcies in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia Agnew is a Queen's Counsel at the Scottish Bar....
Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary Islay Herald Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary was a Scotland Officer of Arms prior to 1867. The office was first mentioned in 1493. Islay is an island off the west coast of Scotland and was the headquarters of the Lord of the Isles....	Alastair Campbell of Airds
Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary	title not in use at present
Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary Snowdoun Herald Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary was a Scotland officer of arms prior to 1867. The office was first mentioned in 1448 and the title is derived from a part of Stirling Castle which bore the same name....	title not in use at present
Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Bute Pursuivant Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scotland Officer of Arms. The title of the office derives from the Isle of Bute.The most recent Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary was W David H Sellar....	title not in use at present
Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Carrick Pursuivant Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in ordinary. The title is derived from the Earl of Carrick, one of the titles borne by Robert the Bruce before his succession to the crown....	Elizabeth Ann Roads Elizabeth Roads Elizabeth Ann Roads, Royal Victorian Order is Carrick Pursuivant and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records for the Court of the Lord Lyon....
Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Unicorn Pursuivant Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish Officer of Arms. The title was created after 1381, and derived from the unicorn. One of these beasts is used as a supporter for the royal arms of Scotland, and as a Heraldic badge....	Adam Bruce Adam Bruce Adam Robert Bruce is Unicorn Pursuivant at the Court of the Lord Lyon. He was previously Finlaggan Pursuivant, a herald in service to the Clan Donald of Scotland....
Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Dingwall Pursuivant Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scotland Officer of Arms. The office is currently vacant, as the reduction in the number of pursuivants in the Court of the Lord Lyon from six to three in the late nineteenth century means only three titles are in use at any one time....	title not in use at present
Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Kintyre Pursuivant Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scotland Officer of Arms. The office is currently vacant, as the reduction in the number of pursuivants in the Court of the Lord Lyon from six to three in the late 19th century means only three titles are in use at any one time....	title not in use at present
Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary Ormond Pursuivant Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scotland Officer of Arms. The office is currently vacant, as the reduction in the number of Pursuivant in the Court of the Lord Lyon from six to three in the late 19th century means only three titles are in use at any one time....	title not in use at present
Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary	title not in use at present
Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary Orkney Herald Extraordinary Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scotland Officer of Arms. The current holder of the office is former Lord Lyon King of Arms, Malcolm Innes of Edingight....	Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight Malcolm Innes of Edingight Sir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight Royal Victorian Order, Writers to the Signet, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. was Lord Lyon King of Arms from 1981 until 2001....
Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is the name of a former Scotland Officer of Arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon. The title was first mentioned in 1493 and it is derived from the Royal Palace of the same name located in Fife....	title not in use at present
March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary	title not in use at present
Procurator Fiscal to Lyon court Procurator Fiscal A procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland, also carrying out some of the investigatory functions done by the coroner in other legal systems but not any eventual Fatal Accident Inquiry....	George Way of Plean George Way of Plean George Way of Plean is the Procurator Fiscal of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland. He has held that position since 12th February 2003. He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and senior partner with the law firm of Beveridge and Kellas SCC....
Herald Painter	Yvonne Holton

From time to time, others can be appointed temporarily or as a recognition of their work. These are styled Herald or Pursuivant Extraordinary. In this way the previous Lord Lyon, Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight

Malcolm Innes of Edingight

Sir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight Royal Victorian Order, Writers to the Signet, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. was Lord Lyon King of Arms from 1981 until 2001....
, serves as Orkney Herald Extraordinary

Orkney Herald Extraordinary

Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scotland Officer of Arms. The current holder of the office is former Lord Lyon King of Arms, Malcolm Innes of Edingight....
. Administrative support to the Lyon Court is provided by the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records. Prosecutions for violations of heraldry are carried out by a Procurator Fiscal attached to the Lyon Court.

In Scotland

Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
there are also four private pursuivants that are independent of Lyon Court. These officers are employed by Scottish nobles

Peerage of Scotland

The Peerage of Scotland is the division of the United Kingdom Peerage for those peers created in the Kingdom of Scotland before 1707. With that year's Act of Union 1707, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were combined into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a new Peerage of Great Britain was introduced in which subsequent ti...
and chiefs

Scottish clan chief

for a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see Scottish clans.The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan....
and perform duties relating to genealogical, heraldic, and ceremonial matters of clan members. For more information see Private Officer of Arms
Private Officer of Arms

A private officer of arms is one of those heralds and pursuivants appointed by great noble houses to handle all heraldry and genealogy questions....
.

Court of the Lord Lyon

Leadership and administration

See also

External links