St Kilda Kilts & Scottish Gifts

Unlike the Campbells of Inveraray and the Campbells of Breadalbane who use a boar’s head as a crest, the Campbells of Cawdor (and Campbells of Airds), use a crowned swan.

Swans were often associated with elegance and especially with music, so we might assume that the Lairds of Calder/Cawdor were keen to express their refinement and education, which would also be underlined by the motto to be mindful. The Lindsay and Wemyss crests also use swans. James Coats 1725 dictionary of heraldry describes ‘the Swan is a Bird of great Beauty and Strength, and it is obferv'd of him that he uses not his Strength to prey on, or tyrannize over any other Fowl, but only to be reveng'd on such as offer him Violence, in which case (Aristotle says) he often gets the better of the Eagle.’ However, Coats also mentions how swans are often the symbol used for hypocrites, having white feathers but black skin. As much as the numerous enemeries of the Campbells might have believed this, it is hardly likely the lairds of Calder would have wanted to proclaim this! 

The little crown is likely a nod to MacBeth, the most famous Thane of Cawdor. It could be that any duplicitousness is a reference to him as well, if that was ever meant (perhaps not). 

The motto ‘be mindful’ has been in use from at least 1510, when it was engraved onto an elaborately carved fireplace, now in Cawdor Castle. The full arms are shown on that fire place, but there is no crest on the helm. The first time we see the swan seems to be in 1672, when we see it on the full coat of arms on the outside of the castle.

MKP 14 October 2020