Burke's General Armory, an old but authoritative resource on heraldic symbols and language gives the following verbal description of the Colvin family crest and coat of arms:

Arms: "Argent a cross moline gules, on a canton azure a trefoil slipped or."

 

Crest: "A hinds head couped argent, charged with a trefoil slipped vert."

 

Argent:  French word for "silver," one of the basic "tinctures" or colors of medieval shields.

 

Cross moline: The French word "moline" means mill. The cross moline resembles the metal straps that strengthen a millstone. The points at the ends of the straps were split and flared outward. The cross moline was used to indicate the eighth son.

 

Gules: red, a common color in heraldry. The red cross was often found on arms of those associated with the English court.

 

Canton azure: A canton is a square located, unless otherwise indicated, in the "chief dexter" or upper left corner of the shield, extending approximately 1/3 of the width of the shield. The upper right corner was known as the "chief sinister" position. It is important to note that the "chief dexter" position is on the right hand side of the shield bearer. Thus, the "chief sinister" position was to the bearer's left. In general, animals and other such figures faced the dexter side of the shield. Figures facing the sinister side of the shield represented illegitimacy.

 

Trefoil slipped or: A trefoil is a three-leafed grass, such a clover. The term "slipped" means torn or ripped loose from the main plant. It is the opposite of "couped" or cut cleanly. "Or" means gold, another heraldic tincture.

 

Hind's head couped argent: That simply means the head of a doe cut cleanly at the neck rendered in gold.

 

Charged: Charged objects are subordinate figures that appear in close association with or on top of main figures.

 

Vert: green

 

From "The Colvin Coat of Arms"

 

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Side Note: I recently found that the crest and coat of arms shown above may be of Irish origin. Some references point to the coat of arms shown below to be of Scottish origin. However, I haven't confirmed this at this time. - R. Colvin, 04 September 2002

During this research, it has come to my attention that the following Clan Badge (or Clan Crest) was given to a member of the Colvin Family. I have not confirmed this at this time. - R. Colvin 08 October 2002

The best translation I can come up with for "Oublier Ne Puis" is that it is French for "I will not forget". That follows the family mottos Michael Colvin has on his site.

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Downloadable Files

Family crest in BMP format

Family crest in JPG format