Heraldry of the Turnbull Clan

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In an age where reading and writing was almost non existent in the lower classes, a person's coat of arms became their main source of identification. It was not uncommon then, for a shield to contain an element symbolic of the family, either a pun on the name, or a recognition (and sometimes boast) of some great feat.

There was no better choice (or lack of modesty) when William Turnebull assumed a black bull's head on a silver shield and the motto "I SAVED THE KING". Two more heads were later added making a total of three. Many (incorrectly) claim these later arms to be the earliest arms for Turnbull.

The Turnbulls of Minto used a black bull's head facing the front and the motto "Courage". There are also arms attributed to Trimble depicted in this manner differenced by the lower half of the shield being gold. So too do the Trummer family in Germany, using a silver head on a red shield.

Of the three Trumbull arms known, two use three bull heads breathing fire, while the last uses one head painted green. The Tournebulls and Tourneboeufs in France were also proud on their Scottish connection by using 'trois tetes de buffle'.

The most widely known of the Turnbull arms, however,  are those of Bedrule. They comprise of a silver shield charged with three black bull heads, their horns painted green. They are the arms on which most Scottish Armorial grants are based, and the most published in heraldry and Scottish clan books.

To date there are over fifty versions of arms granted or used by Turnbulls and associated families. These can be seen in the Turnbull Armorial section.