St Kilda Kilts & Scottish Gifts

Menu
Your Cart

Crest Meaning: Buchanan

Buchanan Clan Crest

BUCHANAN Here we have a hand holding a ducal cap topped with a rose, between two laurel branches. The earliest reference to this design comes in 1657, and is usually taken to be a reference to Sir Alexander Buchanan’s exploits in the Scottish expedition on the French side during the Hundred Years War. At the Battle of Baugé on 22 March 1421, Buchanan is said to have killed the English commander Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence (second son of King Henry IV), after the duke had been unhorsed by Sir John Carmichael and wounded by Sir John Swinton. Sir Alexender then held aloft the Duke’s cap to prove his demise.

The Latin Motto, Clarior Hinc Honos roughly means ‘From hence the honour is brighter’. This was adopted in the eighteenth century, in place of the older motto Audaces Juvo (‘I support the daring’). The new motto is thought to play upon ‘Clareinsh’, an island in Loch Lomond granted to the clan’s progenitor, Absalom of Lennox son of Macbeth (not the MacBeth though), in the early 13th century. This also plays on the name Clarence, again referring to the incident of Sir Alexander.

Buchanan Carrick Clan Crest

Our older Carrick version of the Buchanan Clan Crest - subtly different, showing the different ways in which blazons can be interpreted.

MKP 2 September 2020

We use cookies to give you the best possible shopping experience, in keeping with our privacy policy. You can accept all or manage them individually.

Cookie Preferences

You control your data
You can control how your data is used on our website. Learn more below about the cookies we use and choose whch cookies work for you.
if you accept all our cookies
  • Our site may be improved based on your interests
  • Your preferences may be stored for when you return
  • You may see content that's tailored for you
    •
    Operate the website
    These cookies are required for the site to function and for necessary activities like protecting against fraud
    Store your preferences
    These cookies remember your preferences, like country or language, to personalize your next visit to the site
    Personalize marketing
    These cookies are used for marketing communications based on your interests
    Measure performance
    These cookies help to refine our understanding how you interact with the site and what types of content are valuable to you