Lyon Family Crest mug

The Lyon Family Crest mug. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

Eminently suited for a proper brew! Whether it’s a gift to mark a milestone birthday, a new home, or Christmas morning — here’s an artwork with history in your hands.

The origin of the name Lyon

Lyon (de Lyon) is an iconic Scottish clan surname (Clan Lyon) derived from the Anglo-Norman personal name or nickname Lyon ("lion") or from Lions-la-Forêt in Normandy. Granted the Thanage of Glamis by King Robert II in 1372, the Lairds of Glamis rose to premier aristocracy as Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Ruling ancestral lands centered at the landmark Glamis Castle in Angus, the clan served as Great Chamberlains of Scotland, judges, and military commanders, eventually producing Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother).

The symbolism of the Lyon coat of arms

Commanding and noble, the Lyon coat of arms features a black shield charged with a broad argent / silver or white chevron bearing black ermine spots (chevron ermine), set between three seated golden lions (lions sejant: two in chief, one in base). In Scottish heraldry, the black shield symbolises wisdom, dignity, and constancy, while the silver chevron with ermine spots denotes unblemished judicial purity, sincerity, and fortress defense. The three golden lions sejant represent composed majesty, heroic strength, and calm leadership under trial. Positioned above the shield, the crest displays a golden lion's head erased issuing out of a red cap of maintenance (chapeau) trimmed with ermine, symbolising supreme royal favor, bravery, and baronial dignity. Below, the motto scroll displays Noli irritare leones, translating to "Do not provoke the lions." The formal recognition of this coat of arms was registered in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland (1672) for the Earls of Strathmore.

Historical figures

Sir John Lyon, Lord of Glamis (c. 1340–1382): Great Chamberlain of Scotland and founder of the Clan Lyon dynasty at Glamis Castle.
Lady Elizabeth Lyon (17th Century): Scottish noblewoman recorded in Strathmore land charters.
Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (1855–1944): Scottish peer, landowner, and maternal grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II.

Product details

• High quality white ceramic mug with the family crest printed two sides
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.3″ (8.5 cm) in diameter

No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order

This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful gifts for family occasions.

Don’t see your family name?

I’m always happy to add new crests and products to the collection, so please get in touch if you can’t find what you're looking for. ⚜️