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The Kennedy crest is a heraldic dolphin with the motto ‘Avise La Fin’ meaning ‘consider the end’. Heraldic dolphins are delightful creatures, bearing no resemblance at all to the real thing. The Kennedy crest is certainly one of the more distinctive ones in Scottish heraldry.
The crest and motto were in use by the 1680s, as they are mentioned in Sir George Mackenzie’s Families of Scotland manuscript, although we’ve not been able to trace it further back. Given the earldom of Cassillis was created in 1509, this must have been in use much earlier.
James Coats 1725 Dictionary of Heraldry describes the dolphin as ‘the king of fishes as the lyon is of beasts’ and that in folklore ‘the dolphin is so much admired and beloved by the other fishes, that that follow him about as their leader and chief’. Among other things the dolphin was thought to represent a crafty leader and naval power. Given the Kennedy’s stronghold of Culzean and prominence on the Ayrshire coastline, the adoption of this symbol seems fitting.
There is possibly a French connection to both crest and motto here as well. The heir of the French king was known as the Dauphin. Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar was leader of Scots mercenaries who fought for Joan of Arc at the siege of Orleans. Later, in 1558, Gilbert Kennedy the 3rd earl of Cassilis was sent as ambassador to France to arrange the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to the Dauphin.
