Dundee

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DUNDEE

City

Official blazon

Argent, a pot of three growing lilies Argent.

Above the shield is placed a Coronet appropriate to a statutory Council of a City, videlicet:- a mural coronet Or, masoned Sable, and on a wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest a lily Argent, and in an Escrol over 'the same this Motto "Dei Donum" and in another Escrol under the Shield this Motto "Prudentia et Candore", the said Shield having for Supporters two dragons, wings elevated, their tails nowed together underneath, Vert.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on June 3, 1996.

The arms are those of the former district council with a different crown.

Current seal :

District

From 1975-1996 part of Tayside Region
Incorporated into : 1996 Dundee City Council

Official blazon

Azure, a pot of three growing lilies Argent.

Above the Shield is placed a coronet appropriate to a statutory District, videlicet:- a circlet richly chased, from which are issuant eight thistle­ heads (three and two halves vis­ ible) Or; and on a Wreath of the Colours is set for Crest a lily Argent; and in an Escrol over the same this Motto "Dei Donum, and in another Escrol under the Shield this Motto "Prudentia et Candore", the said Shield having for Supporters two dragons, wings elevated, their tails nowed together underneath, Vert.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on October 2, 1975.

The arms are those of the former burgh, without the helmet and mantling and with a different coronet.

Burgh

Incorporated into : 1975 Dundee District Council

Official blazon

Azure, a pot of three growing lilies Argent.

Above the Shield is placed a mural coronet and a Helmet befitting the degree of a Royal Burgh with a Mantling Azure doubled Argent, and on a Wreath of the same Liveries is set for Crest a lily Argent, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto "Dei Donum"; in another Escrol below the Shield this Motto "Prudentia et Candore", the said Shield having for Supporters two dragons, wings elevated, their tails nowed together underneath Vert.

Origin/meaning

The arms were first recorded on July 30, 1673, granted on October 6, 1932.

The main shield shows a pot with three growing (natural) lilies. The lilies first appear on the seal of the city in 1416. The lilies as well as the blue colour symbolise St. Mary the patron saint of the city.

The two dragon supporters date from the 17^th century, but their meaning or origin is not known. They may have been a symbol for trade and symbolise the sea, but there is another theory statinig that they are derived from two lions, already seen on a 15^th century seal of the city showing St. Clement.

The historical motto is Dei Donum (God's Gift) and has always been placed above the shield. According to legend, the city recieved its name and motto from the fact that David, Earl of Huntingdon, when returning from the Crusades sailed into a storm in the Firth of Tay. He managed to land safely on a place which, in gratitude, he called Donum Dei, which evolved into Dundee.
The name, however, is of Gaelic origin and means the Hill of God (Dún Dè) or Hill of Tay (Dún Taw).

Although not officially described, the supportes have been standing on a knotted rope for many centuries.

The second motto, "Prudentia et Candore" (With thought and purity), was added in 1932 and may be a further reference to the H. Mary.

The seal from around 1900	The arms as used on a JaJa postcard +/- 1905
The arms on a Wills's cigarette card, 1906	The arms on a cigarette card, 1905
The arms in the Coffee Hag albums +/- 1925	The arms on a Mitchell's cigarette card, 1911
The arms on an FDC from 1973

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© since 1995, Heraldry of the World, Ralf Hartemink
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Literature : Porteous, 1906; Urquhart, 1974, 1979, 2001; Dundee Courier and Adventurer, May 1932.