"Hold Firm"

[AllYourBase]

I saw a crest recently, that was circular, with a smaller circle inside, with the words "hold firm" written around the top half of the outer ring these circles created. There was some sort of picture in the middle, but I couldn't make out what. Can anyone point me in the direction of what this is the emblem/crest/logo of? I suspect it might be military or sporting. Thanks.

[New Forester]

I've found a couple of examples of family badges which use a motto similar to this. One is "Tiens Ferme" or "Tenons Ferme", which translates as either hold firm or stand fast (Latin or Norman French?). The other motto was in the form of "Stand Fast" in English. I couldn't find it as "Hold Firm". http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.familycrest_details/s.Squ ires/Squires_family_Crest/Squires_coat_of_arms/qx/Squires.ht m http://www.clangrant-us.org/symbols.htm

[AllYourBase]

Thanks New Forseter. Although this wasn't it, I managed to find it using this site. I had actually got the wording wrong, it was actually "hold fast". The site you linked to found it for me fairly quickly - It's the clan badge of the Macleod family. http://www.houseofnames.com/coatofarms_details.asp?sId=&s=ma cleod

[dundurn]

Scotland has even stricter rules about "coats of arms" than apply in England and Wales. There is no such thing as a "family crest" but members of clans are allowed to wear the Chief's crest i.e. the figure, object etc which is displayed on top of the helmet in his "coat of arms" surrounded by a buckled belt. In some cases the motto from the "coat of arms" is used as the clan motto. In other cases there is a different motto or slogan (war cry) usually displayed on the background of the belt. The resulting badge can be worn on the bonnet or as a lapel badge. These days it's quite common to find it on the sgian dhu in the stocking top.

Stand fast is the motto of Clan Grant - hence Grant's Standfast whisky!