Certamine Summo
Arms:
Sa. a chev. checquy or, and gu. between three cushions of the second.
Crest: A stork's head erazed, holding
in her beak a serpent waved ppr.
Supporters:
Two Talbots ppr.
Motto:
Above the crest, Certamine summo. = Contest All
( Let me know if my Latin translation is inaccurate !!!)
Estates:
Brisbane, in Ayrshire ; and Makerstoun, on the banks of the Tweed, in
Roxburghshire.
Source :
Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and
northern Ireland, enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank;
but uninvested with heritable honours. - John Burke
Esq. - MDCCCXXXV. (1835)
At one time these arms were known to have a Gold Medal Hanging Between the two top Cushions, but as the line of General Sir Thomas Brisbane 'who received the medal from the King' died out, it does not seem appropriate to use it. Also this same Man was amongst other things the captain of the ship that first landed at a cove in Australia with a fresh water stream which they named after their Captain and hence the name of the city that grew there.
Interestingly, many members of the family "Brisbin" in America have asked for details of this coat of arms, but it seems that their name originated during the American war of Independence when two rebel sons wishing to differentiate themselves from their British father, changed the spelling and went to war against their own heritage. Does this Bar the line from using the Arms ???
NEW
Henry Shaw received land in the late 16th century on Ballygally
Bay (Ireland) and went there to build a new home. For some reason, he
went back to Scotland. His son James Shaw came to Ireland probably about
1620. He was married to Isabella Brisbane and adopted the Brisbane name.
He completed the castle his father had begun in 1625. Over the entrance
are the crests of the Shaw and Brisbane families with the following inscription:
J. S. 1625 I. B.
God's providence is my inheritance
The castle still stands and is now a hotel (I must visit to confirm)
