All information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Clan Crest | A gold crescent (Or) within a strap and buckle |
| Coat of Arms | Argent, a chevron sable between three mullets sable |
| Motto | Speratum et completum |
| Translation | “Hoped for and fulfilled” |
| Plant Badge | Laurel (traditionally associated) |
| Gaelic Name | No traditional Gaelic version (name is territorial) |
| Origin of Name | From the lands of Arnott, Portmoak Parish, Kinross-shire |
| War Cry | Not recorded |
| Pipe Music | Not recorded |
| Septs | None known |
| Clan Tartans | Arnott tartan – Modern, Ancient, and Hunting versions available |
| Societies | No central clan society; genealogy networks active |
| Clan Chiefs | Armigerous clan (no recognized chief by the Court of the Lord Lyon) |
Historical Overview
Origins and Early Records
The Arnott name (also Arnot, Arnote, Arnatt) comes from lands in Portmoak Parish, Kinross-shire, where the family was established by the 12th century. Records as early as 1105 mention the Arnotts, and by 1296, David Arnott of Fife rendered homage to King Edward I of England. In 1320, the lands were confirmed to Matilda de Arnoth, and other early members appear in royal documents through the 1300s.
Arnott Tower and Family Influence
Arnott Tower was constructed in the early 1400s, although earlier fortifications may have stood on the site. The present ruin likely dates to around 1507, when the Arnott family gained a charter securing the land as a barony. The tower had a spiral staircase, vaulted cellar, hall above, and upper storeys. It was abandoned around 1700, becoming a romantic ruin that inspired writers such as Michael Bruce, who likened the feud between Arnotts and Balfours to Romeo and Juliet.
Emigration and Legacy
From the 15th to 19th centuries, Arnotts appeared in records across Edinburgh, the Borders, and beyond. Edward Arnott was involved in disputes with the Earl of Irvine in the late 1400s; George Arnott was a merchant burgess in Edinburgh in 1627. Later generations emigrated to Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the US, particularly during the 18th–19th centuries. Among them was Sir John Arnott, who built a commercial empire in Ireland and became a baronet.
Tartan
