Armigerous clan

The word "armigerous" means "bearing a coat of arms". To call a clan "armigerous" is a misnomer. A clan cannot bear arms and thus cannot be armigerous. A clansperson or a clan society or other organisation can bear a coat of arms and be armigerous, but that does not make the clan armigerous or in right of arms. Before 1745, all chiefs bore arms; however, not all of these are recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, which was established in 1672. In Scottish heraldry, only chiefs or heads of clans or families bear undifferenced arms. A clan is considered a "noble incorporation" because a clan chief is a title of honour in Scotland under the law.[1][2][3][4]