Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records
Encyclopedia
Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records is an heraldic
office in Scotland
. The holder of this office is appointed by the Crown, and like the Lord Lyon King of Arms
receives an annual salary
. Lyon Clerk's duties include heraldic research, the preparation of papers and lectures and conducting and assisting with the preliminary business of application for a grant or matriculation of armorial bearings
. This includes scrutiny of documents supporting the application. As Keeper of the Records the duties include maintaining the records of the office, overseeing the preparation of documents, allowing inspection of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland
and other records, and issuing certified extracts when required. Until 1867 there was a Lyon Clerk Depute, and in 1986 Elizabeth Ann Roads
became the first woman appointed to the office of Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records.
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
office in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The holder of this office is appointed by the Crown, and like the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
receives an annual salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
. Lyon Clerk's duties include heraldic research, the preparation of papers and lectures and conducting and assisting with the preliminary business of application for a grant or matriculation of armorial bearings
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. This includes scrutiny of documents supporting the application. As Keeper of the Records the duties include maintaining the records of the office, overseeing the preparation of documents, allowing inspection of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland
Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland
The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland was established by Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1672. The register is held at the Court of the Lord Lyon and contains every grant of arms since that date. Bearings that are not matriculated in the Register may not be used in Scotland...
and other records, and issuing certified extracts when required. Until 1867 there was a Lyon Clerk Depute, and in 1986 Elizabeth Ann Roads
Elizabeth Roads
Elizabeth Ann Roads, MVO is Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records for the Court of the Lord Lyon.-Personal life and education:...
became the first woman appointed to the office of Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records.
Holders of the office from 1898
- c1895 J. W. Mitchell
- 1898-1929 Francis GrantFrancis Grant (officer of arms)Sir Francis James Grant KCVO, LLD, WS was a Scottish officer of arms who eventually rose to the office of Lord Lyon King of Arms. Grant served in the Court of the Lord Lyon as Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary beginning on 17 May 1886...
- 1929-1966 Andrew Lawson, CVO
- 1966-1981 Malcolm Innes of EdingightMalcolm Innes of EdingightSir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight, KCVO, WS, FSA Scot. was Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland from 1981 until 2001.The third son of Sir Thomas Innes of Learney and Lady Lucy Buchan, third daughter of the 18th Earl of Caithness, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and at the University of...
, CVO, WS - 1981-1986 Don PottingerDon PottingerJohn Inglis Drever Pottinger was a Scottish officer of arms and heraldic author. He is best remembered for the publication, with Sir Iain Moncreiffe, of Simple Heraldry, Cheerfully Illustrated.-Early life:...
, LVO - 1986–Present Elizabeth RoadsElizabeth RoadsElizabeth Ann Roads, MVO is Snawdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary and Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records for the Court of the Lord Lyon.-Personal life and education:...
, MVO