The crest of the Laird of Gartshore features an eagle displayed, a heraldic term meaning the eagle is shown with its wings fully outstretched and its head held high. This commanding pose, coupled with the family motto “I renew my age,” gives the crest a sense of nobility and spiritual vitality, especially striking for a lairdly, rather than noble or royal, house.


The arms were formally registered in the 1670s by Alexander Gartshore of Gartshore, although it is possible that earlier generations had used the same or similar arms unofficially for several decades beforehand. The eagle as a symbol in heraldry is deeply rooted in classical and royal iconography. According to James Coats’ New Dictionary of Heraldry (1725), the eagle was the emblem of Jupiter, chief among the Roman gods, and served as their divine messenger. Coats describes it as “one of the most noble Bearings in Armoury,” traditionally reserved for individuals of exceptional bravery, generosity, and moral excellence, often bestowed by monarchs themselves.


While the Gartshore family does not appear to have been prominent in royal service, it is likely they assumed the eagle as a symbol of aspiration and virtue rather than through royal grant. Coats adds that the eagle displayed is shown in its most natural and majestic pose, when it “prunes its feathers, or faces the sun to recover its rigour.” This imagery provides a compelling interpretation of the family’s motto. The eagle facing the sun and renewing its strength may have been intended to represent the laird himself—revitalising his estate, improving his lands, reforming local life, and embodying a model of godly and virtuous leadership. In this sense, the Gartshore crest expresses both high ambition and a powerful metaphor of personal and communal renewal.


MKP 13 June 2025