St Kilda Kilts & Scottish Gifts

The Clelland Crest has some relatively straightforward symbolism. It was mentioned in 1722 Nisbet’s System of Heraldry, but has an older pedigree.

The Clellands (or Knelands) of that Ilk were hereditary foresters to the Earl of Douglas. A very important role in this job was in managing their woodlands in Lanarkshire. A crucial part of that job was managing the hunting stock. As such, the laird’s arms contain a hare with a hunting horn around its neck (first recorded around 1498), while the crest here has a hunting falcon with the falconer’s glove. The motto ‘for Sport’ hence relates to the ‘sport’ of hunting, rather than games in the modern sense.

Nisbet mentions the sport motto, although there was at the time another motto sometimes used, ‘non sibi’ meaning ‘not for himself’, a broad expression of service, a motto used by other families, sometimes with modifications such as non sibi patriae (not for himself, for the courty) non sibi cunctis (not for himself, for all) and so on.

During the medieval period foresters also had an important official and legal function, enforcing the laws within the forests, as well as a management role over the raw materials, such as the timber.

The Clellands have two branches in Northern Ireland, the Clelands (one L) and the Clealands. The placename 'Cleland' from which the kindred take their surname, means something like 'Clay-land' ie land with a lot of clay in the soil. 

MKP 29 June 2023