Shield: Gules & Crosier or, and sword argent saltireways; on a chief argent, a thistle vert, a bordure indented argent.
Crest: A crosier and dagger in saltire as in the shield.
Motto: Optium quod primun
Authorities : Kirk Genalogies Scottish Heraldy American Vol 23 Burkes General Armory
Description of symbols:
Crosier: A staff carried by, or in front of a bishop or Archbishop, on a ceremonial occasion. Sumbol of ecclesiastical office, and emblem of faith.
Sword and Dagger: Emblem of Military honour and should indicate the bearer to be just and generous in pursuit of honor and virtue in warlike deed. Weapon of justice, imported during the Crusades.
Saltiries: In manner of a SALTIRE. One of the greater ordanies; the St. Andrew’s Cross or cross in the form of an X. Synbol of resolution.
Chief: First in importance, and occupies the top of the shield, the foremost position. Symbol of dominion and authority. Granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom, as well as for successful command in War.
Thistle: The ordinary Variety of Thistle — the emblem of truth. Was once a Scottish Order of Knighthod, sometimes called the Order of St. Andrew.
Bordue: Represents high authoritty, Frequently adopted as the difference between relatives bearing the same Arms; also adopted as a symbol of honor.
Indented: Usually as a varient of Bordure; symbol of Honor, and represents the form of fire.
Colors: (red) or gold, argent (Silver), vert (green)
My copy of the Coat of Arms is blended with black, so can’t copy it well. As best as I can describe it follows:
Crossed Swords (Shape of an X) sit atop a Chief (Helmet & breastplate) and shield with the crest having crosier and dagger in Saltire ( shape of and X – Cross of St. Andrew)sitting in the center of the shield. The top portion of the shield has has the silver chief, a green thistle, and a silver bordure indented.
Terry Kirk said,
May 26, 2008 at 2:30 am
If you want a picture of the Kyrke coat of arms, send me an email.
Momma G said,
July 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm
So, what does “Optium quod primun” mean anyway?
Tommy Kirk said,
March 24, 2010 at 2:56 pm
“So, what does “Optium quod primun” mean anyway?”
^m
It Translates to “That is best that is first”
also I do not believe this coat of arms to be correct…its a very modern coa
The real Coats of Arms still held today are located in wales. All of the arms were moved when a branch of the “kirkes of the eaves moved to wales”
our family had alot of warriors so we have several CoA’s….Sir David Kirke and his Brothers were all knighted in the mid 1600′s and the current coa of Newfoundland is Davids. the two oldest CoA’s I located were the following…
The ARMS of Kirke, of Martinside and The Eaves, are Argent, a
chevron gules, between three boars’ -heads erased sable, langued gules,
CREST. A wild boar passant sable.
The Anchient Arms of the Kyrkes of Whitehough(whom most of us are related) are as follows…
per fesse or and gules a lozenge counterchanged
after the capture of Canada we earned this addition….the said Kingat-
Arms doth confirm the same ; and again addition doth further
grant, viz. — Azure, a lion rampant or, supporting a cutlaas argent,
all within a canton. As for the crest, on a helmet and wreath
of his colour, an arm armed proper, and purfled or^ holding a cutlass
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My Name is Thomas Michael Kirk Jr. I am your distance Cousin.
By the way
my line is of Christopher Kirke of Virginia 1635….I will skip alot of names to shorten this up, but basically from Virginia my line moved to Kentucky in 1790 James Kirk, then to Kirkville MO Jesse Kirk, in 1865 my line took a 6 month hike out the Oregon trail. A couple of generations lived in Eugene and Heppner Oregon….After a massive flash flood in the early 1900′s we moved to Washington State..My Grandfather, Father ,and myself all born near Seattle…In the year 2000 we relocated the line to Florida.
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Thank You to whomever webmastered this…its a great website
bambudder said,
March 8, 2011 at 2:49 am
Hi there, my son-in-law, Roger Goodwin is from Kirksville, Missouri. Some time ago, he and I sat down and proved that his line came through Jesse Kirk and we traced it back to a James Kirk, brother to a william Kirk. I’ll geat together when him when I am at home next week and get back to you with the information. I gave it to him to send to his sister, Judy Hardin , who lives in Denton, Texas. If he still ahs it in his files, I’ll get it together and send it to you.
Kathlyn Kirk Davis (Bambudder)
Tommy Kirk said,
March 24, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Also I am working on the English History of our family. Our pedigree written by a Kirk in the 1600′s does not match the English rolls. So any information found via the internet from about the year 1550ish on back is Incorrect or Conflicting as of now. The History is correct but the names of the pedigree of the Kyrkes of Whitehough is conflicting to the rolls. We Normans kept great records so I will be going to England in search of the truth in the next few years. To prepare for this I am currently learning 2 dead languages of the world Old French and Latin.
As soon as I can get any info I will let you guys know.
bambudder said,
March 8, 2011 at 3:27 am
Tommy,
That name is familiar to me as I have a brother, Tommy Kirk. I have been busy with many things and haven’t checked all these comments. I ran acrdoss two of yours that disagree with what I have posted. If you ever finish the English Family, let me know. It seems you don’t agree withsome of the information that I ahve, such as the Coat of Arms. I have the Kyrke Coat of Arms and I have the updated version. We did come from the Kyrkes who came with William the Conquerer and there are many variations of the spelling of our name. You can disagree with what I have, but I researched the Derbyshire Records and have been in contact with some of the English Kyrkes. Are you actually Norman or are you descended from the Norman lines? If so are you from the USA? I didn’t actually get everthing that I posted from the Kirk book or from family trees. I did verify the information that I have. If you find that I am wrong I will be glad to get the correct information. My family has been doing this research for a long, long time. My aunt is certified with the National Genalogical Society and you have to prove what you report or they don’t accept what you submit. I have been researching my family line since 1966 and have had access to family bibles and other family records. I served as the director of a Family History Center for many years and I do know how to do this research and how to verify it. And I am a Mississippi Kirk, but I am descended from the Christopher Kirke, who came over in the ship of his relative Thomas Kyrke. My father’s name was originally to have been John Gervais Rye Kirk, but the persons who were writing Birth Certificates told my grandmother that the name was too long, wo she dropped the Gervais part of it. I would be glad to hear from you when you complete your studies and obtain your inormation.
Kathly Kirk Davis.
Tommy Kirk said,
November 10, 2011 at 4:58 am
ahh sorry or the long delay and reply….I dont disagree with the info its all correct….the one main kirk coa posted above is commercial…our real coa is the kyrke coa in the college of heraldry…sir david kirkes family seal rings have been discovered at the colony of avalon dig in newoundland….its the same as his minus his addition for defeating French Admiral Claude de Roquemont.
didnt make it across the pond yet, but we did go to Kirksville,Mo and looked thru probate…also visited Lebanon,Ky….trying to get up to VA this year to research.
ahh and to answer your question “Are you actually Norman or are you descended from the Norman lines? If so are you from the USA?”
Since 1635
Im one of your cousins if your christopher 1635 line…thru Jesse Kirk of Kirksville Mo….we moved out the oregon trail summer of 1865…..Charles Sylvester Kirk was Jesse’s son…..Jesse James Kirk was C.S’s son….Jesse Edward….Chester Leroy….Thomas SR…then me 
1635-aprox 1790 VA
1790′s -1830′s KY
1830′s-1865 MO
1865-1903 OR
1903-2000 WA
2000-present FL