The crest of the Galbraith family features a distinctive muzzled bear’s head, accompanied by the Latin motto “As Obice Suavior.” Translated from French, this phrase means “Gentler because of the obstruction,” implying that the bear has been tamed due to the presence of the muzzle. This symbolism suggests not only strength and ferocity restrained by wisdom and control, but also the ability to channel potentially dangerous energy into something more refined and manageable. The image of the muzzled bear has long been associated with the Galbraith name and serves as a metaphor for leadership that tempers power with restraint.



Historical depictions support the long-standing association between bears and the Galbraith family. The Workman manuscript of the 1560s clearly shows three muzzled bears’ heads as part of the Galbraith arms. However, earlier records suggest that the family’s heraldic beasts may not always have been bears. Seals attributed to Malcolm Galbrathe in 1409 and Walter Galbraith in 1542 depict what appear to be boars rather than bears. This has led some historians to speculate that the shift from boars to bears may have resulted from either a deliberate change in symbolism or a gradual mistranslation or misinterpretation over time. Regardless of the cause, the evolution from boars—symbols of courage and ferocity—to muzzled bears suggests a deliberate embrace of the idea that strength is most admirable when it is under control.



By the early 18th century, in Alexander Nisbet’s System of Heraldry, the arms of Galbraiths from specific branches—namely Giltroyck and Kilchrich—are recorded as having three muzzled bear heads. These early arms lacked both a crest and a motto. It was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that individual Galbraiths, particularly in Ireland, began to adopt a single muzzled bear's head as their crest, indicating a growing trend to personalise heraldic elements within the family.



The now-established crest and motto were later formally adopted by Thomas Dunlop Galbraith (1891–1985), who was ennobled as Lord Strathclyde. He was a descendant of the Galbraiths of Barskimming, a branch of the chiefly line that had become extinct in the 17th century. Through his adoption of the crest, Lord Strathclyde revived and reaffirmed the ancient heraldic identity of the Galbraiths, preserving a powerful symbol of restrained strength for future generations.


MKP May 2025