Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Lambton County Museums Logo

Contact Us
  • Lambton Heritage Museum
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibits
    • Learn
    • Collections and Research
    • Get Involved
    • News
    • About Us
  • Oil Museum of Canada
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibits
    • Learn
    • Collections and Research
    • Get Involved
    • News
    • About Us
  • Lambton County Archives
    • Visit the Archives
    • Events
    • Exhibits
    • Learn
    • Collections and Research
    • Get Involved
    • News
    • About Us
  • Donate

The Lambton County Crest

More
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

Like a medieval knight, a county or town can use heraldic arms to symbolize its identity and authority. This simple and elegant way of communicating has existed for centuries. Today, a municipality's crest or coat of arms connects the past and the present.

Lambton County was established in 1849. A simple crest was soon adopted. In Canada West's Last Frontier, Jean Turnbull Elford describes the design as a lamb inside an oval frame. This design included "The County of Lambton" written around the oval and "1849" printed below. A lamb was likely chosen because of the "lamb" in Lambton.

By 1908, Lambton County Council decided to recognize the growing local population with a more sophisticated crest. They wanted to pay tribute to John George Lambton, the first Earl of Durham, for whom the county is named. Judge D.F. McWatt obtained permission from one of the Earl's descendants to incorporate elements of the Lambton family crest into a new County crest. For more information about John George Lambton, read the Lambton Heritage Highlights article "A County Named for Radical Jack."

The new crest has several components. In the centre, three lambs are depicted on a shield. A twisted roll of fabric (torse) and a ram's head (crest) are located above the shield. The shield is supported on either side by a strand of maple leaves. The French motto, "Le Jour Viendra" (our time will come), and the year 1849 are inscribed below. The motto, ram's head, and shield design come from the Lambton family crest. The redesigned crest from 1908 is still in use today.

Bronze. Caption: "Does this look like a lamb? Seal on by-law book of the County of Lambton, 1852, Lambton County Archives Collection.", link.

Large, circular, gold and dark blue pendant on a gold chain with the new Lambton Crest upon it. Image Caption: "Post- 1908 Lambton County crest attached to a ceremonial chain worn by the Warden of the County of Lambton, Lambton Heritage Museum Collection."), link

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

County of Lambton logo

About Us

Lambton County Museums is the home of Lambton Heritage Museum, the Oil Museum of Canada, and the Lambton County Archives.

Website

  • Lambton Heritage Museum
  • Oil Museum of Canada
  • Lambton County Archives

Resources

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Website Feedback

Discoveries that Matter Logo

Copyright © Lambton County Museum 2020

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.