- The Governor General of Canada
The contents of this Register are intended for research purposes only. The heraldic emblems found in the Register may not be reproduced in any form or in any media without the written consent of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and/or the recipient.
Neill House, University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Registration of Arms
October 20, 2022
Vol. VIII, p. 124
Click on each image to enlarge. The blazon and symbolism for each element will accompany the enlarged image.
Blazon
Arms
Per chevron Gules and Vert, in chief two beavers Or upholding an open book Argent and in base a lion rampant, on a chief Or a sinister hand couped between two fetterlocks Gules;
Motto
VINCERE VEL MORI;
Symbolism
Arms
The Canadian Heraldic Authority does not have confirmed symbolism for this emblem. The following comments are hypotheses only. The chevron division and the two gold beavers holding a book on a red background are taken from the arms of the University of New Brunswick. The lion and the red hand likely honour the Neill family after whom the residence is named, since these elements are common to the arms of individuals bearing the Irish and Scottish surnames O’Neill or MacNeil. The fetterlocks, which are antique padlocks, possibly refer to the Neill family’s hardware business in Fredericton.
Motto
This Latin phrase means “Defeat or die.” It is the motto of the Scottish Clan MacNeil.
Background
Canada Gazette Information
The announcement of the Letters Patent was made on January 1, 1900, in Volume 0, page 0 of the Canada Gazette.
Artist Information
Creator(s)
Original concept of the Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh.
Painter
Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh / Cour du roi d’armes Lord Lyon, Édimbourg
Calligrapher
* Not applicable / Sans objet
Recipient Information
Civil Institution
Educational
The recipient’s emblems were originally recorded in the records of the Court of the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh, Scotland, 17 May 1962.