In the red bands, the Clan slogan "An Gordonach" and the Clan motto "Bydand" are written in gold (letters or). Each ivy leaf is in its normal color (proper).
Two more ivy leaves are in both the second and third compartments. The first compartment has the badge and one ivy leaf in the bottom right corner. This breaks the standard into three compartments. It has two horizontal strips of color (tracts), the first is blue (azure) and the second is gold (or). Andrew's cross of silver or white (argent) in the part of the flag nearest the pole (hoist). What's all that mean?Ī blue (azure) field, with a St. Andrew's cross Argent in the hoist and of two tracts Azure and Or, upon which is depicted the Badge in the first compartment and five leaves of rock ivy Proper, on in the first compartment (bottom right corner) and two each in the second and third compartments along with the Mottoes “An Gordonach” and “Bydand” in letters Or upon two transverse bands Gules. Andrew's cross appears on most Scottish Standards. Since all clan badges are belted, there were not used in the standard to prevent confusion. The standard uses the crest, not the badge, as the crest is more easily recognized unbelted at a distance. The crest, the motto and slogan appear on a background of the two principle colors of the shield. On it were displayed all the special marks of the clan so that it could be recognized quickly and easily by those who could not read. What's a standard?Ī Standard is a headquarters flag used to rally the clan in battle. Hence our use of both House of Gordon and Clan Gordon.Ī Standard is a headquarters flag used to rally the clan in battle.
While Clan Gordon is certainly the most common term used, both Clan and House are truly synonymous and either term is proper. Some Gordons claim to be Clan Gordon while others House of Gordon out of personal preference or bias. While the family organization in Scotland calls itself the "House of Gordon", most publications use the more common "Clan Gordon" as does the book "Scottish Clan and Family Encyclopedia" considered the authority. By the early twelfth century they had settled in the village and estates of Gordon, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders under the protection of their kinsman, the Earl of Dunbar."īecause the Gordon family did not start as a "clan", it is often referred to as the House of Gordon, a name more tied to its Norman descent. Of Norman descent, they were one of many families welcomed into his kingdom by David I. Although the Gordon family in Scotland rose to become the predominant power in the northeast of Scotland they were not natives to that part or indeed to Scotland, and had a feudal rather than a Gaelic origin. The origin on the Gordon family in Scotland was not Gaelic.