Our Family Coat of Arms
For years I have had the misplaced belief that the McBrayer family possessed their own coat of arms. I now learn that this was a mistake. A recent email from Charles McKerrell of Hillhouse, Chieftain of the McKerrell clan, informs me that what we thought was a McBrayer arms was actually an ancient arms registered to the McCrea of Orangefield.
I was also under the false assumption that a coat of arms was registered to a family or clan. It is not. It is registered to a chieftain or Scottish-recognized head of a family.
At this time there is no recognized chieftain of the McBrayer family either in America or in Scotland.
PLEASE NOTE - February 19, 2010: I have just been informed by McKerrell of Hillhouse, a member of the Scottish Armigers, that it is possible for a group or association to petition the Lord Lyons for a Coat of Arms to be issued to that organization.
McKerrell of Hillhouse states in his email that:"...it (the Scots Armingers website)...points out that there is no such thing as family Arms, but (that) does not mean that a group belonging to a surname can not be granted a coat of Arms for that society or association, which can be for a family, but are NOT the family's Arms but those of their association or family. If you read the Society of Scottish Armigers website you will see that we (in) our society have a coat of Arms, which I use on my stationary, cards, lapel pin (and) a banner of the Arms for a flagpole, etc. as an officer of the Society of Scottish Armigers, but not in a private capacity, likewise I have heraldry Society of Scotland cufflinks, tie pin, etc., but no cards etc. (I) am not an office bearer of that society."
The following is extracted from The Society of Scottish Armigers' website at http://www.scotsarmigers.net which describes in detail who is granted the coat of arms and who may use it. In fact it is unlawful in Scotland for unauthorized persons to use another's arms.
"It should be noted that in Scotland, a coat of arms belongs to a single individual at a time and there is no such thing as a "Family" coat of arms or crest. If a person uses the arms of someone else in Scotland, he or she is usurping those arms and the Procurator Fiscal of Lyon Court can prosecute the offender in court. And it is the Procurator Fiscal who goes after the culprit – not the owner of the arms."
"Outside the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon, it is in the worst possible taste to pretend that someone else’s Scottish arms are your own, although many people do not realize that this is the case. The best modern analogy is identity theft. Arms were the symbol of a person’s identity back in the days when most people were illiterate; likewise, they had an important use on the battlefield (Who’s my ally in this fight? Oh, I see his banner!) and at great gatherings. To use someone else’s Arms was a great insult and downright dangerous, and the reaction was at least as strong as anyone would feel now if his identity was stolen by hackers."
"The basic or undifferenced arms and crest are the property of the Chief of the clan or name. The Scottish system of armorial differencing distinguishes the arms of various individuals, and identifies the Chief, Chieftains, and cadets of each organized name. Although a coat of arms belongs to a single individual and is the mark identifying that individual, most coats of arms for persons of the same surname will bear some resemblance to the arms of the Chief. A trained eye will recognize how individuals are related by observing their arms."
You will notice that the coat of arms displayed in the masthead of the home page of this website has now been removed and replaced by a family 'seal' that was designed by Raymond Morris of Scotland several years ago.
At this time there is only one recognized, registered coat of arms for a McBrayer. That belongs to the late Dr. Duffy E. McBrayer, Jr., who, with the assistance of Charles McKerrell of Hillhouse, obtained it and had it legally registered with the Lord Lyon in Scotland. It now appears in the official book of heraldry for registered arms.
I personally apologize to the Lord Lyon for this misunderstanding .... and to my American family for leading them to believe this was our coat of arms. If anyone was offended by my ignorance I take full responsibility. I'm sorry! | 
