Keenlyside Coat of Arms

According to The British Herald, or Cabinet of Armorial Bearings of the Nobility and Gentry by Thomas Robson published in 1830, the Keenlyside family crest was 3 black battleaxes paleways two and one and the crest is a beacon lighted. The significance of the battleaxes shows that the family at some time made a contribution to the army of a nobler lord, this may have been financial but most probably they were able to supply men and horse during some dispute or another. There is further evidence for the coat of arms in An Alphabetical Dictionary of Coats of Arms belonging to Families in Great Britain and Ireland forming an extensive ordinary of British armorials published in 1874. This was the work of John W Papworth (1820-1870) and Alfred William Whitehead Morant (1828-1881). It was published in London by T Richards. A further look at the glossary of the heraldic terms tells us that the battleaxes are vertical (paleways) and that the beacon lighted symbolises an iron cage or trived, containing blazing material placed upon a lofty pole which served as either a guide to travellers of to alarm the neighbourhood in case of invasion or rebellion. The latter would seem to apply in this case as the Keenlyside family lived in the area known as the 'badlands' or Border Country, where the Reivers held sway for many years.

See website for the House of Names for an image of the crest.