Clan Charteris Crest

Every heritage crest is delivered instantly as a high-resolution digital bundle. You will receive three premium file formats tailored for any project:

• Color PNG: Perfect for digital display, standard printing, and framing.
• Black & White PNG: Ideal for elegant family stationery, embossing, or minimalist designs.
• Professional SVG: A fully scalable vector file perfect for large-scale printing, laser engraving, and custom merchandise.

This highly detailed engraving depicts the traditional crest badge of Clan Charteris, a storied family from the Scottish Lowlands. The badge is structured in the classical circular buckle-and-strap format, which symbolizes a clansman’s allegiance to their chief.

At the very top, within a curved scroll, the clan’s motto is declared in uppercase serif letters: “THIS IS OUR CHARTER.” Below the main image, another scroll clearly identifies the kinship: “CLAN CHARTERIS.”

The central element—the crest proper, which would traditionally sit atop a chief’s helmet—features a right hand and forearm raised, emerging from a twisted wreath (or torse). The hand is clenched, firmly grasping a sharp dagger, or short sword, held point upward.

This design is a powerful and witty visual pun. The motto, "This Is Our Charter," plays directly on the family name, Charteris. A "charter" is a legal document granting rights or land. The crest’s symbolism suggests that the Charteris family’s right to their position and property was not just earned by paper, but was forged and defended "by the sword."

Historically, the dagger is widely believed to refer to William Charteris, who was with Robert the Bruce when the future king famously murdered his rival, John "Red" Comyn, in a Dumfries church in 1306. This violent event was a turning point in Scotland’s Wars of Independence. The Charteris crest is a proud boast of this ancient connection, declaring that their legacy was won and secured through unwavering loyalty and martial strength.