Coat of Arms

James wrote: I believe I am technically allowed to wear some tartan or another

I have a family tartan (on my mother's side, the Hay Clan). I've worn it on a couple of occasions, like prom and other formal events.

Regarding heraldry: here in the UK, coats of arms can only be granted by the College of Arms. It can be pretty pricey to get one, but I'm potentially a good candidate for one so it may be something I consider when I'm older

Given the vaguaries of the internet, and of my knowledge of my ancestry, I have found two or three "possible" tartans, and two or three "possible" crests and coats of arms that might apply to my family (as it was two hundred years ago anyway)


But, after all this looking at crests and coats of arms, I am left with one question

has anyone ever actually seen a -ing lion in Scotland?

Who decided to put the damn things on every shield and family crest?

Just for awareness, my stuff is not legally recognized, I use it for my fighting events, and outside of those organizations I don't have it listed anywhere. Now, Nakis Mercades is a legal alias of mine, but otherwise I made it up, had some history fanatics look it over and debate on it, paid $15 for that service, and then it was done.