Eur Ing David Ayre of Kilmarnock, Baron of Kilmarnock

Registered: The International Register of Arms, 27th March 2007. Registration No. 0100.

Arms: Per saltire Argent and Azure, in chief a hind's head couped at the neck Proper, in base four gouttes Sable one, two and one, in each flank an antique crown Or, an enarched chief chequy Vert and Or.

Crest: On a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest a greylag goose rising wings elevated and addorsed Proper.

Motto: AD MELIORA INSURGO

Badge: As Baron of Kilmarnock, two concentric circles, the outer having at each of the four cardinal points the horn of a trumpet pointing outwards Gules.

Standard: The Badge is depicted in the first and third compartments and the crest in the centre compartment upon a Standard three and a half metres in length of four tracts Azure and Argent, split at the end, having the said Arms in the hoist, with the Motto in letters Argent upon transverse bands Gules.

Granted: Court of the Lord Lyon, 26th April 2004.

All of the armiger’s forebears are Ulster-Scots (Hindman, Gordon, Reid, McMath, McKeag, Alexander). His paternal family - many of whom are registered Ayr - are formerly 'de Ayr' and of Ayrshire territorial origin. The Baron of Kilmarnock was honoured to be the first of the Ayre name to be graciously granted Armorials in Scotland by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms.

The Arms were devised to include the Ayre family association with the feudal Lordship & Barony of Kilmarnock for all time. The Vert and Or chequy is taken from the shield of the old Burgh of Kilmarnock and is a reference to the Arms of Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock, the original owner of the Barony. The antique crowns emphasise its great historical importance.

The hind's head (from Hindman) is a reference to the armiger’s maternal family. The four gouttes represent crude oil and the owner's career (over a quarter of a century) in the Scottish oil & gas industry.

Greylag geese are residents and visitors in Orkney. For over twenty five years the armiger and his wife have watched their great flight formations as they depart south. They symbolise the adventure and benefits of travel, and the spending of the winter months abroad, so a greylag goose shown rising - which complements the motto 'I rise to greater things' - was chosen as the crest.

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