Arms of The Chiefs of Clan Macpherson

The Arms of the Chief of Clan Macpherson have had the crest depicted in a number of ways over the years. The original blazon in the Lyon Register in 1672, describes the Crest as "a Cat sejant proper," that is a cat sitting with all four paws on the ground. The chiefs of the Clan however have never displayed the cat in that position and have always it would appear, displayed the cat as sejant, guardant and erect, that is sitting, full face or looking toward the viewer, with both forepaws raised in the air in rampant position. When Cluny again matriculated in August 1984, the new Crest is displayed in what may best be called a compromise between the traditional interpretation and the actual blazon, in that the cat is now officially recognized by the Lord Lyon as sejant with the sinister (left) paw extended horizontally.

The Arms of Sir William A. Macpherson
of Cluny Macpherson and Blairgowrie

The personal flag of the Chief is carried before him by a banner-bearer or hoisted on his arrival. The whole surface is covered with the Arms of Macpherson of Cluny and is flown to indicate that the Chief of the Clan is present on the grounds.

The Standard of the Chief is split with rounded ends in non-baronial style and fringed in the livery colors. The Standard does not indicate the personal presence of the Chief but is his rallying flag. It is used to denote his headquarters at a Highland Gathering. The Standard of Cluny is described as: "His Crest is depicted thrice upon his Standard of twelve feet in length, having his arms in the hoist (next to the flagpole) of these liveries Or (gold) and Azure (blue) Accompanied by two sprigs of white heather proper (his Badge for the honourable. the Clan Macpherson) in the fly with his slughorn "Creag Dhu" in letter Or (gold) upon two transverse bands Gules (red).

Eoin Macpherson

Eoin Macpherson was curator of the Clan Macpherson Museum for many years. In 1970 his arms were recorded showing a predominantly blue shield, with galley dagger and cross-crosslet in gold. The central charge of Crossed sword and pipe represents the "sword of justice" to commemorate Eoin Macpherson's long service in the special Constablary and was an Inspector of Turriff and District area. The "pipe chanter" alludes to the splendid record of Phosa (Mrs. Eoin) Macpherson's family as pipers to the Cluny Chiefs, the most notable being her grandfather, Malcolm Macpherson, the famous "Calum Piobair".

The "book of learning" refers to Eoin's great grandfather, William Macpherson, the first head master of Daniel Stewart's School, Strathtay. The "wing" signifies Eoin Macpherson's RAF service during W.W.II.

Ronald Thomas Stewart Macpherson, C.B.E., M.C., T.D.

The Arms are similar to his brother, the Rt. hon. Niall Malcom Stewart Macpherson, Lord Drumalbyn of Banchor, which in turn were a "differenced " version of those granted to his uncle Lord Strathcarron of Banchor in 1935. The shield is divided horizontally gold and blue with the familiar components of the Cluny Arms, The Galley, the red hand, and dagger and the cross-crosslet as the principal charges. A checkered band of blue and silver (called 'fess') is placed across the center of the shield and this is taken from the Arms of Stewart to denote descent from that family. As in the arms of Lord Drumalbyn, each silver square of the 'fess' is charged with an ermine spot but the upper edge is 'embattled', to difference the Arms of R.T.S. Macpherson from those of Lord Brumalnbbyn. In Heraldry, when the charge is 'embattled' it often means military service, which in this case, is particularly appropriate.

Ronald Thomas Stewart Macpherson, C.B.E., M.C., T.D.

Monroe Macpherson

The Arms granted to Monroe were similar to his ancestor, but with the addition of a gold border surrounding the shield "for difference." The various charges from the Cluny Arms are included but this time the "red hand" is not holding the usual dagger, which has been replaced by "two lightning flashes" to indicate Monroe's profession as a radio broadcaster. Also "in chief " is a gold "Eagle's head" taken from the Arms of the Chief of Clan Munroe. This alludes to both the armiger's Christian name as well as representing the "American Eagle".

Arms of John Stuart Macpherson of "Annwfn".
Azure, a lymphad or, sails furled mast and tackling all proper, flag flying gules, in dexter chief a dexter hand couped fessways, grasping a dagger erect point upwards, and in sinister chief a cross-crosslet fitchee of the second, overall on a fess also of the second between an open book proper binding and fore edges of the first and a wing of the first, a sword point upwards of the third. Above the shield is placed an helmet befitting the degree, with mantling azure doubled or and on a wreath of the liveries is set the crest, a cat-a-mountain guardant sejant erect grasping in its forepaws a sword all Proper and in an escrol over the same this motto - "DIM Y CATGI YMA BYGWTH".	Explanation The background Shield and Arms are those of Macpherson of Cluny, the Clan Chief. Some of the remaining details are shared with others descended from William, the Headmaster of Daniel Stewart Free School in Strathtay. Azure = Blue, this is the "First" Colour. The colour of woad used by the Picts. Lymphad = a Galley or Sailing Ship, sails "furled" indicating "came and stayed". The "galley" flies the "jolie rouge" the Templar Navy Ensign. Or = Gold, this is the "Second" Colour. Proper = when shown in it's natural colour, i.e. as it should be. Gules = Red, this is the "Third" Colour. Dexter = right, shield bearer's right, onlooker's left. Chief = the upper part of the Shield. Couped = cut off cleanly. The hand and dagger signify the involvement of the Clan in the overthrow and expulsion of the Comyns of Badenoch, enemies of Robert the Bruce. Fessways = see Fess (below). Sinister = left, shield bearer's left, onlooker's right. Cross-crosslet fitchee = three small crosses incorporated into one large cross, it represents the ecclesiastic origins of the Clan. Originally a Catholic symbol for the "Trinity" but also a Templar and later a Masonic symbol, indicating loyalty and comradship; "togetherness". Overall = over the whole. Fess = a horizontal field across the centre of the shield. On this "Fess" are a "book", reference to William the Headmaster ("book of knowledge"); Eoin, the Curator, his father, John, the Policeman and myself ("book of law"); myself ("author"); a "wing", a reference to my service in the Army Air Corps and Aerospace Industry, shared with Eoin, Royal Air Force; a "sword" reference to my military and civil police service, shared with my father, Stuart, grandfather, William, Eoin and his father, John. First = first colour mentioned - in this case "Azure" or "Blue". Second = second colour mentioned - in this case "Or" or "Gold" (depicted as "Yellow"). Third = third colour mentioned - in this case "Gules" or "Red". Helmet = the type of helmet indicates the status of the Armiger. Mantling = this is fixed and flows from the helmet, to keep the sun off the back of the armour. Doubled = refers to the Mantling and means alternating i.e. Gold and Azure. Wreath = a head band of cloth. Liveries = the colours used on the Wreath, the same as the mantle. Crest = a device above the helmet used as a totem symbol, it may be used by supporters of the Armiger; in this case a "wild-cat" or "cat-a-mountain", showing the link to Clans Chattan and Macpherson; the sword indicates "Guardian of the Clan Macpherson Association". The tongue in the fashion of the Maori "haka", alludes to service with the Army Commonwealth Brigade in the Far East. Motto = a slogan in a scroll; in this case "Dim y Catgi yma bygwth", this is old Welsh, the ancient language of the Britons (Picts) of Perthshire, it is a variation of the Gaelic (modern Scots) Clan Motto, "Na bean don Chat gun Lamhain" translated as "Touch not the Cat but a Glove", and meaning "Do not threaten this Warrior".