Forbes Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

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Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Lord Forbes). Az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. Crest—A stag’s head attired with ten tynes ppr. Supporters—Two bloodhounds ppr. collared gu. Motto—Grace me guide.
2) (Monymusk, co. Aberdeen, bart., 1628; generally designed “of Pitsligo” after 1781, when the fifth bart. became heir of line of the Pitsligo branch; arms borne by the first- five barts.). Az. on a chev. ar. betw. three bears heads couped of the last, muzzled gu. a man’s heart ppr. Crest—A man’s heart ppr. winged or. Motto—Spe expecto.
3) (Monymusk or Pitsligo; as recorded for Sir William Forbes, sixth bart.). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, as the last; 2nd and 3rd, counterquartered, for Forbes, of Pitsligo, viz., 1st and 4th, az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. for Forbes, 2nd and 3rd, az. three frases ar., for Fraser. Crest—Issuing out of a baron’s coronet a hand holding a scymitar erected all ppr. Supporters—Two bears ppr. Mottoes—Above the crest: Nec timide nec temere; below the shield: Adversis major par secundis.
4) (Monymusk or Pitsligo; as recorded, 1865, for Sir John Hepburn Stuart-Forbes, eighth bart.). Quarterly, 1st grand quarter, az. on a chev. ar. betw. three bears’ heads couped of the last, muzzled gu. a man’s heart ppr., for Forbes, of Monymusk; 2nd grand quarter, counterquartered, Forbes and Fraser, as in the last, for Forbes, of Pitsligo; 3rd grand quarter, counterquartered, 1st and 4th, or, a bend gu. surmounted of a fess chequy az. and ar. in chief a crescent of the third, for Stuart, of Fettercairn, 2nd, or, three pallets gu. a chief vair, for Belsches, 3rd, ar. three piles in point gu., for Wishart; 4th grand quarter, counterquartered, 1st and 4th, gu. on a chev. ar. a rose betw. two lions combatant of the field, for Hepburn, 2nd and 3rd, az. a cross pattee betw. three mullets, a double tressure flory counterflory or, for Murray, of Glendoick. Crests—1st, Forbes: Issuing out of a baron’s coronet a hand holding a scymitar erected all ppr.; 2nd, Stuart: A dexter hand grasping a sword ppr.; 3rd, Hepburn: A horse’s head couped ar. furnished gu. Supporters—Two bears ppr. Mottoes—Forbes: Nec timide nec temere; Stuart: Avant; Hepburn: I keep traist.
5) (Balfluig, co. Aberdeen). Az. on a chev. betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. a man’s heart ppr. betw. two skenes of the first, pommelled or. Crest—A skene piercing a heart ppr. Motto—Non deest spes.
6) (Alford, co. Aberdeen, 1733). Same Arms and Motto. Crest—A hand issuing from a cloud holding an anchor all ppr.
7) (Colonel Jonathan Forbes-Leslie, of Rothie and Badenscoth, 1862). Quarterly, 1st grand quarter, counterquartered, 1st and 4th, ar. on a fess betw. a boar’s head erased in chief and base az. three buckles or, for Leslie, 2nd and 3rd, az. a fess chequy ar. and of the first betw. three boars’ heads erased or, a bordure indented of the second, for Gordon; 2nd and 3rd grand quarters, az. a dirk in pale ar. hilted and pommelled or, surmounted of a wolf’s head couped of the third betw. three bears’ heads couped of the second, muzzled gu. on a chief also of the second and issuing out of the lower part thereof a demi otter sa. crowned with an antique crown of the fourth or, for Forbes. Crests—Leslie: A griffin’s head and neck erased ppr.; Forbes: A bear’s head and neck couped and muzzled ppr. Mottoes—Leslie: Grip fast; Forbes: Spe expecto.
8) (Prof. William Forbes, of Glasgow, of the line of Corsindae, 1731). Az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. within a bordure erm. a crescent of the second for diff. Crest—A book expanded ppr. Motto—Virtute me involvo.
9) (Robslaw, co. Aberdeen, 1678). Az. a skene in fess. ar. hilted and pommelled or, betw. three boars’ heads couped of the second, muzzled sa. Crest—A dove ppr. Motto—Virtute cresco.
10) (Corse, co. Aberdeen). Az. a cross pattee fitchee or, betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. Crest—A wreath of thorns ppr. Motto—Rosis coronat spina.
11) (Craigievar, co. Aberdeen, bart. 1630; eventually representative of Corse). Same Arms. Crest—A cock ppr. Supporters—Dexter, a knight in armour of the fifteenth century ppr., having the beaver of the helmet up, and leaning on a shield or, charged with the arms of Scotland; sinister, a bear ar. muzzled gu. Motto—Watch.
12) Forbes-Mitchell – (Thainston, co. Aberdeen). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a cross pattee fitchee betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. a bordure of the second; 2nd and 3rd, sa. a fess wavy betw. three mascles or, for Mitchell. Crests—Forbes: A cock ppr.; Mitchell: A phoenix rising from flames ppr. Mottoes—Watch; Nulla pallescere culpa.
13) (Balgownie, co. Aberdeen). Quarterly, 1st and 4th grand quarters, az. a cross pattee fitchee betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. a bordure of the second; 2nd and 3rd grand quarters, counterquartered, 1st and 4th, az. three frases ar., 2nd, or, a lion ramp. gu. debruised by a ribbon sa., 3rd, gu. a lion ramp. ar. all within a bordure az. charged with eight garbs or, for Fraser, of Fraserfield. Crest—A cock ppr. Motto—Watch.
14) (Earl of Granard). Az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. Crest—A bear pass. ar. guttee de sang muzzled gu. Supporters—Dexter, a unicorn erminois, armed, maned, tufted, and unguled or; sinister, a dragon, wings expanded erm. Motto—Fax mentis incendium gloriae.
15) (Lord Forbes, of Pitsligo; the Monymusk branch are heirs of line, and Forbes, of Newe, claims to be heir male). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu.; 2nd and 3rd, az. three frases ar., for Fraser. Crest—A hand holding a sword ppr. Supporters—Two bears ppr. Mottn—Nec timide nec temere.
16) (Newe, co. Aberdeen, bart., 1823; arms as recorded 1833). Quarterly, aa the last. Crest—A falcon ppr. Supporters—Two bears ar. Motto—Altlus ibunt qui ad summa nituntur.
17) (Rires, co. Fife). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, a lion ramp. gu., for Wemyss; 2nd and 3rd, az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu., for Forbes. Crest—A greyhound pass. ppr. Motto—Hine delectatio.
18) (Tolquhon, co. Aberdeen; now Forbes-Leith, of Whitehaugh). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu.; 2nd and 3rd, ar. three unicorns’ heads erased sa., for Preston. Crest—A stag’s head attired with ten tynes ppr. Supporters—Two greyhounds ppr. collared gu. Motto—Salus per Christum.
19) (Waterton, co. Aberdeen, 1672). Quarterly, as the last, on an escutcheon of pretence ar. a sword and key gu. as Constable of Aberdeen. Crest—An eagle displ. ppr. Motto—Virtuti inimica quies.
20) (Ballogie, co. Aberdeen). Per fess az. and ar. in chief three bears’ heads couped of the second muzzled gu., in base as many unicorns’ heads erased sa. Crest—A sheaf of arrows ppr. Motto—Concordia praesto.
21) (Auchredie). Quarterly, as Tolquhon, within a bordure chequy ar. and gu. Crest—A small sword in bend ppr. Motto—Scienter utor.
22) (Culloden, co. Inverness). Az. on a chev. betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. as many unicorns’ heads erased sa. Crest—An eagle displ. or. Motto—Salus per Christum.
23) (Foveran, co. Aberdeen, bart., 1700). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a cross pattee betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu.; 2nd and 3rd, ar. three unicorns’ heads erased sa., for Preston. Crest—A stag’s head couped gu. attired ar. Motto—Cura et candore.
24) (Brux, co. Aberdeen). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a martlet ar. betw. three bears’ heads couped of the second, muzzled gu., for Forbes; 2nd and 3rd, or, three bars gu. within a bordure wavy vert, for Cameron. Crest—A hawk’s head erased ppr. Motto—Nec mons nec subtrahit aer.
25) (Skellater, co. Aberdeen, 1767). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. a martlet betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. a bordure of the last; 2nd and 3rd, az. a chev. betw. three boars’ heads or, within a bordure counter-compony of the second and first, for Gordon. Crest—A hand holding a dagger erect, on its point a bear’s head couped ppr. Motto—Solus inter plurimos.
26) (Echt, co. Aberdeen, earlier line). Az. a fess chequy ar. and gu. betw. three bears’ heads couped of the second, muzzled of the third. Crest—A sandglass ppr. Motto—Fugit hora.
27) (Millbowie, co. Aberdeen). Az. a skene in pale ppr. with a wolf’s head couped or, on the point betw. three bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. Crest—A bear’s head muzzled as in the arms, within an orle of olive branches vert. Motto—Virtute non ferocia.