Hi, Thomas M. Beatty wrote to the Scottish Lord Lyon. The letter is included below. I must make a comment here. The Scottish Heraldry is different from English or French or Spanish. Each has its own college of heraldry and rules. (Seal) Our Ref: BG 25 October 2010 THE COURT OF THE LORD LYON CONFIDENTIAL H.M. NEW REGISTER HOUSE EDINBURGH EH 1 3YT Tel: 0131-556 7255 Fax: 0131-557 2148 MR. THOMAS M. BEATTY 610 Woodfield Drive Asheville North Carolina 28803-8669 United States of America Dear Mr. Beatty, I have received your letter of 15th October regarding the surname Beatty. I have looked at the list of ‘Clan Septs and Dependents’ given in The Clans, Septs & Regimensts of the Scottish Highland, written by Frank Adams, but can find no reference therein to the surname Beatty, however spelt. George Black, in his book the Surnames of Scotland, published by the New York Public Library, indicates the surname was fairly numerous in some parts of the Borders and that it was from a diminutive of Bartholomew. Clans, Septs & Regiments says the surname Bartholomew is a sept of either the Macfarlanes or Leslies, but as these are both Highland or North East Scotland surnames, I think it unlikely that Beatties coming from the Scottish Borders would be considered a sept of either. With regard to crests and badges, I should point out that there is no such thing as a coat of arms that can be used by anyone of a particular name. Arms are granted to and identify a specific individual and descend to their heirs in each generation, while cadet members of the family bearing the same surname can matriculate off the underlying arms. Clan crest badges, however, are designed to be worn by members of a clan to show their allegiance to their chief. The badge shows the Chief’s personal crest, that part of Armorial Bearings which sits on the helmet above the shield, within a strap and buckle bearing the Chief’s motto. I can find no reference to anyone who has been recognized as Chief of the surname Beatty. I am sorry to send what I fear will be a disappointing reply. Yours Sincerely, (signed) Bruce Gorie, Secretary to Lyon Office END OF LETTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nelda ~o~o~o~o~o0o0o0o0o0o~o~o~o~o Nelda L. Percival SSGT, E6, US ARMY ret. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://freepages.folklore.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ ~o~o~o~o~o0o0o0o0o0o~o~o~o~o