Hi, I believe that the simple one is the crest of the Kilmarnock Boyds? Cheers, Lynne. :)) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nanyque" <nanyque@gmail.com> To: <boyd@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 10:46 AM Subject: [BOYD] Boyd family seal/crest differences > Hello cousins! > > This is my first post - I've been lurking for a while now. > I have lots of questions about tracing my family line, but they will have > to wait until I get the family history book my grandparents have. Until > then I have a general Boyd question. I regularly see 2 different seals for > the Boyd line. The coat of arms and then a simpler one that is the hand > surrounded by a sword belt with confido written on the belt. I wad > wondering what the difference is (besides aesthetically obviously) between > the two. > > Thanks cousins! > > Nanyque Boyd

Nanyque: I am being a bit lazy here. We recently touched on this in the Boyd! Facebook group. I am pasting in my bit of the conversation: First ... let's define "Crest". The crest is the element above the Arms. The crest on our Chief's arms is a dexter hand, thumb proper, in the sign of Benediction. So... take your right hand, raise it about chin height, relax it, hold your thumb gently to the side, keep the first two fingers raised and let your ring and small finger curl toward the palm. Now if you are speaking of Coat of Arms --- "There's no such thing as a Family Coat of Arms." We CAN wear the crest of the chief within a bucklet/circlet, but not unconstrained. This is referred to as a Clansman's badge. See a colored example here: http://www.clanboyd.org/ Arms are earned (granted to) or inherited by an individual. There are many Armorigious Boyds since the name came into being. First would probably be Robert in 1205. You will find some representations of the Boyd Arms (Achievements) awarded here: http://www.heraldry-online.org.uk/boyd/boyd-arms.htm Be mindful that in Heraldic countries, to use someone else's arms is tantamount to identity theft. Yours Aye, Lauren