- The Governor General of Canada
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George Ralph Nye
Red Deer, Alberta
Grant of Arms, Flag and Badges, with differences to Ian Ross Nye and Keith McLane Nye
August 15, 2014
Vol. VI, p. 438
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Blazon
Arms
Azure a millstone Argent charged with a millrind Gules, on a chief wavy cotised wavy Argent a rod of Aesculapius Gules between two escallops Azure;
Motto
PERSEVERANCE • DUTY • PRESERVATION;
Crest
Issuant from a tower Argent masoned Azure within a circlet of flax blossoms and mayflowers proper a demi-griffin Azure winged Argent holding in its dexter claw a sword Gules;
Symbolism
Arms
The wavy lines allude to the name of Nye meaning “near the water” in Middle English. The shells represent a pilgrimage by Dr. and Mrs. Nye to the Holy Land, and they also represent their two sons. The mill stone alludes to the mill built by Benjamin Nye, Dr. Nye’s ancestor, in Sandwich, Massachusetts, circa 1670. The snake and rod emblem symbolizes Dr. Nye’s surgical career.
Motto
Not applicable.
Crest
The mayflowers allude to Dr. Nye’s descent from John Howland and Thomas Rogers, passengers on the ship Mayflower that brought immigrants to New England in 1620. The flax blossoms allude to his mother’s descent from Joseph McLane, a flax and linen merchant who was a Planter (i.e., one of the original English-speaking settlers) of Cobequid, Nova Scotia, in 1780. The tower is inspired by the crest of Maclean of Duart. The sword alludes to the Nye family tradition of military service, beginning with King Philip’s War in New England (1675-1678). The griffin, a guardian of treasure, symbolizes Dr. Nye’s reputation as a researcher and keeper of treasured family histories.