The chief object of this book is to preserve a record of the Armorial Bearings of many ancient Orkney families, some of which, though probably quite authentic, are not in any of the registers of the Lyon Office, but are only to be found upon decaying tombstones and fragile seals, and are consequently in great danger of being lost sight of beyond all hope of recovery.

It does not of course profess to contain the names of all families connected with the Islands who have used arms. It is simply a collection of some of the ancient unrecorded arms to be found throughout the County, together with a record of the present Orkney families whose right to bear arms has been established. The former were used for the most part by cadets of Scottish families who had neglected to matriculate at the Lyon Office, and in the case of arms in use prior to the year 1672, their descendants could probably have them restored by petition to the Lord Lyon King at Arms. It is hoped that the genealogical notes contained in this volume may enable many persons to prove their descent and establish their right to arms.