Peterhead

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PETERHEAD

Burgh

Incorporated into : 1975 Banff and Buchan District Council (1996 Aberdeenshire Area Council)

Official blazon

Vert, a chief paly of six Or and Gules.

Above the Shield is placed a coronet suitable to a Burgh, thereon a Helmet befitting its degree with a Mantling Vert doubled Or, and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest a roebuck's head erased Proper, attired Gules, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto "Veritas Vincit", and on a Compart ment below the Shield are set for Supporters two roebucks Azure, attired and unguled Or.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on November 29, 1929.

Peterhead was licensed as a Burgh of Barony as Peterhead or Keith Inch in 1587 in favour of George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal and Commendator of Deer.

The arms are a differenced version of those of the Keith Earls Marischal, whose achievement had been used by the Burgh for many years on its seal. The lower part of the shield has been coloured green (instead of the Keith silver) to denote that Peterhead is a seaport and the supporters have been coloured blue with golden antlers, as these are the colours of Buchan, which is the part of Aberdeenshire in which the Burgh is situated.

The crest and motto are almost identical to those of the Earls Marischal; the only difference is that the roebucks' antlers have been coloured red instead of gold.

Stonehaven, also a Burgh of the same Earl Marischal, has arms of a similar design.

Seal of the burgh as used in the 1890s

The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905

Community Council

Official blazon

Vert, a chief paly of six Or and Gules.

Above the Shield is placed a Coronet appropriate to a statutory Community Council, videlicet:- a circlet richly chased from which are issuant four thistle leaves (one and two halves visible) and four pine cones (two visible) Or, and in an Escrol below the same this Motto "Veritas Vincit".