Our Symbols
Our website header features the Jack Family tartan and crest, reflecting the two most recognisable visual symbols of Clan Jack. These designs were created for the Society and represent our shared heritage, identity and cultural history.
The Jack Tartan
The tartan shown in our header is registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans as “John Jack (Fife) (Personal)”, Registration No. 10,719 (22 October 2012). It was registered by our Chief, John Jack of Fife, who subsequently gifted the right to use this tartan to all those bearing the Jack surname and to descendants of Jack families worldwide. The colour palette of red oxide, black, peat brown, tarragon and gold reflects Scottish lowland landscapes and the older areas of Fife and Angus where many early Jack families lived. The tartan is woven by selected Scottish mills and may be used for kilts and garments by members of the Society.
Crest Artwork
Clan Jack Crest
The crest used throughout this website, including in the header, was designed by Lisa Jack, USA. It is a cultural emblem unique to Clan Jack and incorporates thistles, traditional scrollwork and the tower motif associated with early Jack heritage.
The crest also features our family motto: “Crìochnaich clò a thòisich thu”, written in older Scottish Gaelic and meaning “Finish what you start.”
While not a legally recognised Scottish clan crest under heraldic law, it is officially approved for use by Society members on merchandise, banners and personal items.
Coat of Arms Artwork
Heraldic Meaning of Our Coat of Arms
Our Jack Family Coat of Arms artwork was created by Lisa Jack to bring together traditional heraldic language with the history and values of the Jack kin. The elements below explain how each part of the design reflects who we are as a family Society, both in Scotland and throughout the wider diaspora.
Scroll and family motto
At the very top sits a scroll bearing our motto “Crìochnaich clò a thòisich thu” (Finish what you start). In heraldic terms this is the motto scroll in chief, placed above the helmet and crest. For the Jack family it declares a shared duty to complete the tasks we take on, to see projects through, and to stand by one another until the work is done.
Helmet, wreath and crest
The helmet is a gentleman’s helm, a closed tilting helm in profile, rendered in silver to signify nobility of character rather than inherited rank. A closed grilled visor represents a leader who is tested, disciplined and ready to defend those in their care.
Clan Jack Coat of Arms
Above the helm is the wreath, or torse, a twisted band in the principal colours of the shield. This binds the crest to the helm and symbolises the way our shared colours and stories bind Jack families together wherever we live.
Upon the wreath stands the crest: a peregrine falcon. In heraldry the falcon is a bird of high flight and unwavering focus. Here it represents the Jack tradition of persistence and determination – one who does not rest until the goal is achieved, whether in work, family life, service or study.
Mantling
Flowing from the helmet is the mantling, shown in stylised folds that echo the colours of the Jack tartan. In classical heraldry this cloth protected helm and knight from sun and blow. In our design it also evokes the woven fabric of kinship itself, representing the way Jack families shelter and support one another across generations.
Shield and Jack Castle
The shield bears the blue and white saltire of Saint Andrew, the national emblem of Scotland. This firmly roots the Society in our ancestral homeland and honours the many Jack lines that arose around the Firth of Tay, Angus, Perthshire and beyond.
At the heart of the shield stands Jack Castle, matching the design used in our brooch, crest and family pin. In heraldic language the castle is a sign of refuge, vigilance and strength. For Clan Jack it signifies a welcoming home – a spiritual and physical place of safety for kin, friends and guests, and a reminder that our Society exists to watch over and preserve our shared story.
Supporters
Flanking the shield are two supporters, living creatures that symbolically hold and guard the arms.
On one side stands an elk, a powerful stag-like supporter representing strength, courage and endurance. In many traditions the elk is a guide and protector of travellers. Here it honours those Jack ancestors who left Scotland, crossed oceans and founded new branches of the family in distant lands.
On the other side is the lion, the classic “king of beasts” of Scottish heraldry. The lion stands for bravery, honour and leadership. It reflects the Jack contribution in war and peace – men and women who took responsibility in their communities, parishes, regiments and workplaces, often without fanfare but with real courage.
Compartment: thistle, fern and Jacobite rose
The arms rest on a compartment combining three key plants.
The Scottish thistle is a historic emblem of Scotland and a symbol of resilience. Its prickles speak of vigilance and defence. For Jack families it represents the stubborn strength of Highland and Lowland forebears who endured hardship yet kept their identity.
The ferns signify strength, stubborn resistance and an enduring tie to the land. They quietly acknowledge the many Jack descendants who made new homes in Aotearoa New Zealand and other fern-clad countries of the south, grafting Scottish roots into new soil.
The Jacobite rose recalls the white alba maxima rose worn by supporters of the Stuart cause. It symbolised hope, loyalty and the wish for a free Scotland. In our coat of arms it honours those Jack kin caught up in the Jacobite struggles and the wider story of clan unification, loss, exile and renewal after the Rising of 1745.
Tinctures and their meanings
Heraldry uses a traditional set of colours and metals known as tinctures. In the Jack design these were chosen to carry particular meanings for our family:
- Or (gold) — generosity, wisdom and enlightenment, reflecting the wish that Jack leadership is generous rather than grasping.
- Argent (silver/white) — purity, sincerity and peace, pointing to honest dealing and reconciliation within the wider family.
- Gules (red) — courage, military strength and honour, in memory of Jack men and women who served in conflict and emergency.
- Azure (blue) — loyalty, truth and steadfast strength, echoing the saltire of Saint Andrew and the sea crossings made by our emigrant kin.
- Vert (green) — hope, joy and loyalty in love, representing family life, children and the renewal of each generation.
- Sable (black) — constancy and gravity in the face of grief, recognising that our history includes loss, exile and hardship.
- Purpure (purple) — royal majesty, sovereignty and justice, a reminder that ordinary Jack families also carry a dignity that does not depend on titles.
Taken together, these heraldic elements tell a single story. The Jack Family Coat of Arms artwork is not simply decorative. It sets out in colour, metal and symbol what it means to belong to Clan Jack today – rooted in Scotland, scattered across the world, persistent in adversity, and committed to finishing what we start.
To safeguard this artwork for future generations, copyright registration has been formally applied for with the appropriate United States government department. Once approved, the design will receive full legal protection under U.S. copyright law, ensuring its proper and authorised use on Society publications, digital platforms, gatherings and merchandise. The Clan Jack Family Society values both the creative contribution of Lisa Jack and the importance of maintaining a consistent, respectful and protected visual identity for Jack families around the world.
Why We Protect These Symbols
- To prevent unauthorised commercial use or misrepresentation
- To maintain visual consistency and uphold cultural meaning
- To honour the creative work of Jack family members
- To ensure members worldwide can use them with confidence and clarity
Any commercial use of the Jack tartan or artwork should be approved by the Society in advance so we can protect both the integrity of the designs and the interests of our members.
