Engraved cufflinks

[Turner43]

My husband inherited a pair of cufflinks from his grandfather on his mother's side. ( I will try to attach a photo).  We believe the crest on one side with the hand holding a scimitar could be from Martin of Lockynge, but we cannot find a family link to this family.   The other image is a mystery, and of the set of 2 cufflinks, this image only appears on one set, whereas the hand with scimitar appears on each set.  There is a family story that the family is related to MacDonald of Clan Ranald, but again there is no proof.

Any ideas gratefully received 

Linda

[KGarrad]

Looking online for crests (NOT coats-of-arms) of a naked arm holding a scimitar, comes up with:

GARNEYS of Kenton, Suffolk
"An cubit arm erased Argent holding in the hand a scimitar argent"
(From A Dictionary of Suffolk Crests: Heraldic Crests of Suffolk Families, by Joan Corder and John Batchly)


There is also a Scottish Law report, stating that a MacRae family had a crest of a cubit arm holding a scimitar. (Heraldry in Scotland, by J.H. Stevenson. available on Google books)


Encyclopedia Heraldica, by William Berry also reports:
Ainslie family of Great Torrington, Lincoln
Crest: a dexter hand and arm, grasping a scimitar ppr

[Turner43]

Thanks for the reply KGarrad

Perhaps I should have mentioned that my husband's grandfather had the surname of Martin - hence the idea of the link to the Martin's of Lockynge.  However, I'll keep your information in mind and try to find a link to either of the families mentioned.

The second cufflink is also a mystery.

Regards,
Linda

[a chesters]

To me, the second one has the look of a headpiece similar to a bishops mitre.

I turned it through 180 degrees, and that is what it reminds me of. I do not say that is what it represents, just that it looks like to me.

A Chesters

[Ruskie]

Big initial M and smaller R in the centre of it, plus other difficult to determine images - representations of animals perhaps? 

[Turner43]

If the second image is (partly) the initials M and R this could be because my husband's Martin grandfather had the middle name of Ranald.   

The idea of a Bishop's Mitre is also interesting.  There seems to be a star at the bottom of the possible 'M' - why have that if it's just an initial?

Thanks to A Chesters and Ruskie

Any more ideas out there?

Linda

[whiteout7]

McGeough?

Arm embowed with scimitar? Looks similar too! Even the rope bits at the bottom. Irish origin though

http://www.myfamilysilver.com/pages/crestfinder-crest.aspx?id=158557&name=Mcgeough

Kennedy?
http://the-red-thread.net/genealogy/kennedy.html
(like the McDonalds, Robert the Bruce supporters)
((Could the second cufflink be depicting  a Kennedy dolphin, with a waterspout to make a M and an R?))
(((Have you found a Kennedy in your tree?)))
*Now my imagination is getting the better of me*


Arm positions
http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/charges/humans.html

[KGarrad]

McGeough?

Arm embowed with scimitar? Looks similar too! Even the rope bits at the bottom. Irish origin though

The "rope bits" is the torse.
Every coat-of-arms consists of a shield, on which sits a helm, on which sits the crest.
The crest is always depicted sitting on a base of twisted cloth - the torse.

The torse is usually 2 bits of cloth, of different colours. And normally the 2 major colours of the shield.


Good finds, though!

[behindthefrogs]

Fairbairns' Crests lists some thirty names of families that use the scimitar crest.  This list includes the name Martin.  However it does not identify a specific branch of the family although a number of specific people are associated with a similar crest that just uses the lower arm truncated below the elbow.