Under Scots Law, arms are personal. There is no such thing as a “family” or “clan” coat-of-arms, although all Nisbet arms share the common feature of three boars on the shield.

Although it is incorrect to display someone else’s arms as your own, members of the clan are free to wear their Chief’s Crest encircled with a strap and buckle bearing their Chief’s Motto or Slogan. The strap and buckle is the sign of the clan member, and he or she demonstrates membership of the Clan by wearing the Chief’s Crest within it. Such a badge is illustrated in the top lefthand corner of this website.

The Chief of the Nisbet Clan (or Family in lowland parlance) encourages all who wish to do so to adopt the clan badge, particularly those who bear the name of Nesbit or Nisbet, or one of its many variants, and those married into or descended from a Nesbitt/Nisbet. But clan membership encompasses all those interested in and supportive of the clan.

Arms of the Chief, Mark Nesbitt of that Ilk

Clan members may also display the arms of the Chief, if wished, and it is in this spirit that they appear at various points in N/N Society websites and publications. The arms are displayed as those of the Chief, not as of the clan or of individual clan members. Guidance on etiquette (and law) governing the use of arms, crests and bages is available at:

The Court of the Lord Lyon

A number of other Nesbitt/Nisbets are armigerous, having inherited arms, and some of their arms are displayed on these pages. It should be remembered that these arms are personal to the Head of each branch of the family.

Non-armigerous NNs are warmly encouraged to apply for a grant of arms. For those resident in Scotland (of any descent), or descended from a Scot and resident outside Scotland, or not descended from a Scot and resident in many Commonwealth countries, this is a straightforward process. A lawyer is not required. Full details are available at:

The Court of the Lord Lyon

The Heraldry Society of Scotland

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