This research was headed by Dr George Carruthers from Fife, now the Clan/Family Convenor, assisted in his efforts by Mr Antony Maxwell, a renowned Scottish heraldist from Edinburgh.

The Society, based in Scotland with regional representatives worldwide, took the official and legal route through the auspices of the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Edinburgh.

This takes Clan Carruthers from armigerous status (without Chief) to attaining legal recognition and thus becoming a 'Noble Incorporation' in Scots law.

[4] The surname of Carruthers arose in Dumfriesshire and it appears to allude to the ancient British fort called Caer Rydderch or Rythyr.

[3] The historian George Fraser Black asserted that this means fort of Rydderch, with Ryderch appearing to be a form of personal name.

[3] The historian George Fraser Black writes of Nigel de Karruthers, a cleric who was also Rector of Ruthwell in 1380, and rose to become Canon of Glasgow Cathedral in 1351.

The suspicion is that the second shield (2) was wrongly recorded by the herald William Pont as an error in describing the colour of the chevrons as Azure rather than Sable, as in blazon #1.

As the second difference they also used chevronels engrailed rather than the larger chevrons, while keeping the Seraphim volant proper as their crest and the clan chiefs motto of Prompts et Fidelis - Ready and Faithful.

The crest of these arms continues with angelic theme; the Archangel Michael pinning the beast proper with the motto individualised as; Non Sto Solus - I do not stand alone.

Further, on the 26th November 2020, the Lord Lyon granted additaments to the Arms of the Chief of Carruthers to include two fallow deer bucks Rampant as supporters on a compartment of heathland, on which is strewn gorse in flower.

He was presented with his Letters Patent by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Albany Herald Extraordinary the representative of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms on behalf of the Sovereign.

Those being an embossed family bible, a balmoral with three eagle feathers, a gold ring engraved with his arms and a cromach (shepherds crook).

An oath of loyalty and to uphold the name of Carruthers in a manner deserving of its respect was given by the Chief to the clan and family.

Carruthers giving the oath were from the local area, other parts of the UK, Africa, Australasia, Canada, Europe, and the United States of America.

After which the Reverend John Pickles, minister of the Church of Scotland for the parishes Annan, Brydekirk, Dalton and Hightae, gave readings from Psalms and the Gospel of St Luke.

The Reverend led all present in prayers and according to ancient tradition as a member of the kirk, gave his blessing to the Chief and then to all those gathered.

The Chiefs of clan Irving; Rupert Irving of Bonshaw, Hunter; Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterson, Hanney; Dr David Hanney of Kirkdale, MacArthur; John MacArthur of that Ilk and the Commander of Clan McEwen; Sir John McEwen of Marchmont and Bardrochat gave their warm best wishes and Ross McEwen Esq, FSA Scot gave greetings from the Buchanan Chief; Michael Buchanan of Buchanan.

The Chief responded with kind words and best wishes to all concerned and the Shennachie closed the inauguration with an emotional statement that what he had begun in 2007 had been officially and legally completed on this day.

1) Arms of the Chief of Carruthers (Registered by the Lord Lyon 1672) Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains Blazon: Gules two chevrons engrailed between three fleur de lis Or supported by two fallow deer bucks rampant on a compartment of heathland on which are strewn gorse flower in bloom.

(Holmains-Chief's Cousins) Blazon:Quarterly 1 and 4, Gules two chevrons engrailed between three fleur-de-lis Or (Carruthers); 2 and 3 Sable, a fess counter-embattled Argent, between three mascles Or (Mitchell) Crest: Dexter - on a wreath of the liveries, a cherubs head proper.

Sinister - on a wreath of the liveries, St Michael in armour holding a spear in his dexter hand, the face neck, arms and legs bare, all Proper, the wings Argent and the hair auburn.

Motto: Promptus et Fidelis (Ready and Faithful) 5) Dr George Carruthers, FSA Scot (Registered by the Lord Lyon 2017).

Blazon: Gules two chevronels engrailed between two fleur d-lis in chief and a bell Or in base, all within a bordure quarterly of the Second and First charged in 1 and 4 with a crescent and 2 and 3 with a mullet counter-changed.

The arms of an individual, to include the arms/shield of the Carruthers chief and his armigers, remain in law the visual signature and property of that person or his proven descendants.

The Bruce tartan however, irrelevant of description e.g. modern, ancient, hunting or otherwise are registered and patented to that family and as such the rights of ownership belong solely to them.

It can be found at: www.clancarrutherssociety.org [13] The Clan Society's badge is the Seraphim Volant Proper, being the crest of the chief, encircled by a belt and buckle on which is inscribed his motto: Promptus et Fidelis.

The Society is non-commercial, apolitical and non-partisan and is open to any member of the international Carruthers family and derivatives of that name.