Heraldry of the clan logan
Armorial Bearings & Other Heraldic Symbols
As an ancient and noble line of Scotsmen, The Clan Logan has a very rich history of heraldric symbols. These include Coats of Arms, Clan badges (crests), and Clan tartans. Some of these are shown below, with reasonable accuracy and descriptions. They are for reference only, and the stories accompanying them are based in historical facts, but often lean towards the stuff of Legend.
Logan,Walter (1296)
Blazon
Three piles in point.
“The shield is placed between the attires of a stag head cabossed” is also noted in the reference.
Historical notes:
- Earliest recorded armiger with the surname of Logan
- There are no metals or tinctures mentioned in the Blazon so one is left to assume that they formed the basis of future Logan arms, and thus were likely ‘Or, three piles Sable in point’; however, they could also have been ‘Or, three piles Gules in point’
- A quick note about ‘Piles’: some sources state that they are an heraldic reference to ’passion nails’ or in other words, the nails that pierced the hands and feet of Jesus the Christ. It is generally accepted that this is a reference to the armiger being Christian.
- Reference: W R Macdonald's Scottish Armorial Seals page 221
Walter Logan Arms (with likely metal & tinctures) (1296)
Logan of Restalrig, Robert (1414)
Blazon
Three piles in point.
“Foliage at top and sides of shield” is also noted in the reference.
Historical notes:
- There are no metals or tinctures mentioned in the Blazon so one is left to assume that they are similar to future Logan arms, and thus were likely ‘Or, three piles in point Sable’ but possibly ‘Or, three piles in point Gules’
- These are the first Logan arms recorded AFTER the ‘Final Crusade of Robert the Bruce’ in 1380
- It’s approximately 118 years since the last known-recorded Logan arms – and they are recorded identically with no reference to the heart of The Bruce
- W R Macdonald's Scottish Armorial Seals page 222
Likely Metals and Tinctures
Logane of Lostalrock (Restalrig) (1455)
Blazon
1st & 4th: Or, three piles sable (Logan). 2nd & 3rd: Argent, an eagle displayed Sable beaked and membered Gules (Ramsay)
Historical notes:
- As can be seen, the armiger is likely displaying an heritage (perhaps genealogy) that intertwines the Logans and the Ramsays of Dalhousie. The Dalhousie arms recorded prior to this period included the black eagle with a red beak, tongue and talons.
- Mitchell Rolls, Scots Roll, page SC105
Logan of Stenton, James Logan (1674 – 1751)
Blazon
Or, three passion nails Gules conjoined in point piercing a man’s heart proper. In base a lion passant of the third.
Above the shield is placed on an helmet befitting his degree with a mantling Sable doubled Or, and on a wreath of the liveries is set for crest a stag’s head proper gorged and chained Or.
Historical notes:
- A contemporary of George Logan of that Ilk
- Many of his descendants claim that he is related to the Logans of Restalrig
- Wouldn’t it be nice to know why he chose a stag for a crest, and a lion for a charge in base?
- Figure is from Heraldry in America, p. 84 figure 257; University Press of the Pacific, 2004 (reprinted from the 1895 original work).
©
Official Crest of the Clan Logan Society International
Chief of Clan Logan - Last Registered Coat of Arms
Shield Or (gold), three passion nails in point, piercing a man's heart in base Gules (scarlet)
In 1330 brothers Sir Robert Logan and Sir Walter Logan, along with Sir William de Keith, Sir William de St. Clair of Rosslyn, accompanied Sir James Douglas in his quest to take the heart of the dead King Robert I of Scotland to the Holy Land.
Douglas and his company had been received by Alfonso XI of Castile, who was campaigning against the Moors, in the Kingdom of Granada. Near the Castillo de la Estrella, Alfonso's army fought the Saracens at the Battle of Teba. During the battle Douglas observed a knight of his company surrounded by the Moorish warriors, and with his remaining men attempted to relieve his countryman.
As the knights were hard-pressed and outnumbered by the Moors, Sir James Douglas took the silver casket containing the heart of Robert Bruce, and threw it before him among the enemy, saying, "Now pass thou onward before us, as thou wert wont, and I will follow thee or die."
Sir James Douglas and most of his men were slain, among them Sir Robert Logan and Sir Walter Logan.
The legend is that the heart shown on the shield is that of Robert the Bruce. The three passion nails represent Sir Robert Logan, Sir Walter Logan, and Sir James Douglas their leader. The nails are specifically referred to as Passion Nails and are indicative of followers of Jesus the Christ.
When the Chief of the Clan is restored, he may choose to use this Coat of Arms - OR - he may choose a new Coat of Arms. In any event, it will be the personal choice of the Chief of Clan Logan.
Clan Logan Tartan - Ancient
Clan Logan Tartan - Modern