The McPhail Coat of Arms
The McPhail Coat of Arms reflects both the Scottish heritage of the McPhail family and its Canadian roots in Prince Edward Island. The family's Canadian lineage begins with Rev. Donald McPhail, who immigrated from the Isle of Mull, Scotland, in 1810 at approximately eleven years of age. He later married Mary Currie, who had arrived in Prince Edward Island with her family in 1806. This branch of the McPhail family traces its origins in Canada to this union.
At the center of the arms is a quartered shield, each section representing a distinct element of heritage and identity.
The first quarter (upper left) features a wild boar's head erased on a green field, a traditional McPhail symbol associated with the Scottish Highlands and the family's origins on the Isle of Mull.
The second quarter (upper right) displays a crossed plowshare and fishing net on an azure field, symbolizing the dual agricultural and maritime livelihoods characteristic of island life. The McPhails were farmers and relied on waterways for commerce and transportation.
The third quarter (lower left) depicts an open Bible, representing the ministerial calling of Rev. Donald McPhail, surrounded by thistles that link faith with Scottish identity.
The fourth quarter (lower right) contains three red maple leaves on a white field, signifying the family's adopted Canadian heritage in Prince Edward Island.
At the center of the shield, an escutcheon bears the dates 1806 and 1810, accompanied by a small sailing vessel. The escutcheon rests atop a set of ocean waves flowing across the shield.
These elements together commemorate the separate journeys Mary Currie and Donald McPhail took from Scotland to Canada.
Above the shield rests a helm adorned with a crown suggestive of Presbyterian clerical tradition. It is surmounted by a dove carrying an olive branch, symbolizing peace, ministry, and the biblical image of renewal from the story of Noah.
Below the shield is a three-part scroll. The central portion bears the Latin motto Per Mare Terraque Firmus ("Steadfast Through Sea and Land").
To the left, a stag supports the shield, standing upon rocks evocative of the coastal landscape of Mull. The accompanying scroll reads "Kilninian & Kilmore," referring to the parish on the Isle of Mull from which Donald McPhail and many McPhails originated.
To the right, a doe supports the shield while standing among wheat stalks, representing the cultivated fields of Prince Edward Island. The scroll beneath reads "Argyle Shore," signifying both a principal landing area for McPhail settlers and the location of their burial grounds.
The base of the arms depicts gentle waves transitioning into rolling hills, visually representing the family's passage from Scotland to Canada.
