Armorial Bearings, Crests and Seals.

In his `History of the Family of Cairnes or Cairns` H. C. Lawlor   writes:

"The Cairnes family bore arms from very early times. Sir David Lindsay, who was Lyon King of Arms from 1552 to 1555; and who was one of the greatest authorities on Scottish heraldry in any age, has in his armorial, left a most valuable stock of information compiled by him from sources at that time at his disposal, regarding the arms of all the Scottish families entitled to bear them. As a result of his investigations as to the Cairnes family of that ilk he records that their arms were 'Gules, three martlets or.'

It will be borne in mind that the family of Cairnes of that ilk became extinct in the chief male line in the person of Duncan de Carnys who died about 1390."

It is not my intent to quote Lawlors entire history of the Cairnes family here on these pages. However after reading so many enquires about the family crest's and coats of arms etc, I felt it necessary to create this page in order to clarify the position regarding; Armorial Bearings, Crests and Seals.

All records pertaining to Coats of Arms, Armorial Bearings, Crests and Seals of the Cairnes families in Scotland are maintained by the Office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Edinburgh.

Your Coat of Arms

If you are interested in obtaining a Coat of Arms you should in the first inst. Take a good look at these websites.

www.clanmacrae.org

This website spells it out clearly - Look under the heading:

What Are My Arms?

"This of course means that all those people who offer to sell you "Your Coat of Arms" or "Your family's Coat of Arms" are wrong. If you are lucky, you might get a cheaply produced version of the arms of your chief, but there is every chance that the arms will simply be those of the first person of your surname that they can find."

http://www.clanmacrae.org/documents/heraldry.htm

This second website although still under construction is quite detailed and informing.

The Lord Lyon and his Jurisdiction

http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/lordlyon.htm

The following table of illustrations have been taken from H.C. Lawlors book and placed on this website for your interest. I do hope this answers most of the questions you might have on this subject, if not, please write to the address below.

All enquiries as to the entitlement to the Rights and Usage of these Badges of Office should be sought from the Court of the Lord Lyon, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT, Scotland.

Coats of Arms, Crests and Seals owned by some members of the Cairnes or Cairns Family

	Carnys of that Ilk. "Gules, three martlets or."
Cairnis of Cults and later of Orchardton. "Gules, three martlets argent, within a brodure or." Motto, "Effloresco."
	Cairnes of Cults and later of Monaghan. "Argent, three martlets gules, within a brodure or." Motto, "Effloresco."
Cairnes of Killyfaddy "Gules, three martlets argent, within a brodure or." Motto, "Effloresco."
	Cairns of Torr. "Argent, three martlets gules, within a brodure or." Motto, "Semper Fidelis."
Cairns of Pilmuir "Gules, three martlets argent, a fleur de lys of the last, for difference." Motto, "Effloresco."
	The Earls Cairns "Gules, three martlets argent, on a brodure of the last, as many trefoils slipped vert." Motto, "Effloresco."
Cairns of Kipp. "Argent, three martlets gules, within a brodure azure."
	Cairnis Coat of Arms Identity of owner unkown. "or , three martlets azure, on a chief gules, an acorn between two mullets of the field."
Cairnis Coat of Arms Identity of owner unkown. "or , three martlets azure within a bordure engrailed gules."
	Sir Geo. Crichton Several families are entitled to quarter the arms of Cairnes through marriages with the heiresses of the family. Here we see the the Arms of Sir George Crichton Earl of Caithness and of the Crichtons of Strathurd.
Carnys Coat of Arms In the armorial MS. of Sir Robert Forman, who was Lyon King of Arms, 1555 - 1567, are emblazoned several coats of arms of Cairnes, but unfortunately the emblazonments only are given with surnames, but without particulars as to the individuals to whom they are recorded. One of these is "gules , three martlets argent, quartering azure, three leopards' faces or."

The tinctures of the field and the charges of the first and fourth quarters suggest the Orcharton family, though the absence of the bordure render this uncertain. The arms displayed second and third are borne by the English families of Barnes and Moore, but the family M'Ghie of Kirkcudbright bore arms with the same charges on a field sable. It is quite possible this shield is that of William Cairnis the elder, of Orchardton, and that of his father, John Cairnis the first of Orchardton, whose wife does not appear to have been mentioned in any of the records, married an heiress of a cadet family of the M'Ghies.

The Seal of John de Carnys Bailie of Edinburgh 1462		The Seal of Bartholemew de Carnys Bailie of Edinburgh 1476

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This document maintained by archie.cairns@blueyonder.co.uk.
Last updated ~ November 2000 ~ Archie Cairns