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Blair of Blair Coat-of-Arms |
The Blair of Blair Coat-of-Arms is described as follows:
Blair: Argent on a saltire sable, nine mascles of the first. Crest on a wreath argent and sable, a stag lodged proper.
The motto Below, Amo Probos.
This simply means that on a silver (argent) field is placed a black (sable) saltire cross, containing nine diamond or lozenge shaped objects (mascles). The crest is a stag lying down (lodged proper) on a silver and black wreath. The motto (Amo Probos) means "I Love The Virtuous". The saltire cross was one upon which St. Andrew. Patron Saint of Scotland, was said to have been crucified, and consequently was granted to one who was steadfast in his beliefs. The mascles, or voided lozenges, were supposed to represent the belt buckles and armor buckles used on a Knight's apparel. These are emblematic of one who would "gird his armor and sword in defense of the right". The stag signified one who was a lover of peace and harmony. The wreath is called a "torse" and is two ends of the mantle twisted around the base of the crest. The helmet in profile, with its visor closed, is emblematic of Esquires and Gentlemen. The flowing mantle that surrounds the helmet is the drapery fixed to the helmet, by tradition to shield it from the sun's rays during the Crusades. The Ayrshire Arms had no cadency marks.
Variations of this Coat-of-Arms is used by the Blairs of Dunskey, Milgerholme, Blairquhan and other branches of the Blair family in the South and West of Scotland. The Blairs of Dunskey used a red star (mullet, denoting a third son) on the top quadrant of the shield. The red mullet is still used today in the Arms of Hunter-Blair of Blairquhan, who is descended from the Dunskey Blairs. The Blairs of Milgerholme are said to have had the crescents (denoting a second son) on each side of the shield and the garb (sheaf of wheat) at the bottom , but without the mullet at the top. Some tombstones in the Aghadowey churchyard, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, have engravings of the Blair of Blair Arms with all four cadency marks on the shield, but with the stag on the crest standing (statant). The Blairs of Blair quartered their Arms with those of Scott after 1732, examples of which are found today at Blair House, Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland.