In Medieval times in England and Continental Europe, it was customary for men going into battle to wear a coat of arms to help distinguish them from the enemy. It also helped to stop them from overheating on the battlefield when their armour could become like a solar oven! The design would generally represent some type of armorial achievement and was specific to an individual rather than a family. As legal property it could be handed from father to son, although often with a slight variation in colour or tincture. At a number of points in history, the heralds of the College of Arms visited counties to assess claims of authenticity and make an official record of the designs, along with a brief pedigree of the family.

The Clutterbuck Coat of Arms was initially recorded by the heralds at the Visitations of Gloucestershire in 1622 and 1682. It can be seen emblazoned, that is in its formal written description rather than as an image, in a number of churches throughout Gloucestershire.

It consists of a silver lion, standing upright on its hind legs, with three scallops overhead on a blue background. The colour silver represents peace and sincerity, blue is truth and loyalty. The Lion symbolises bravery, strength, ferocity and valour. A scallop shell can represent a distant journey or pilgrimage.

The Family Crest, which sits above the coat of arms, is a red buck with gold coloured antlers, seated on the ground between two laurel branches of natural colour. A buck represents one who will not fight unless provoked, peace and harmony and the laurel branch is peace or triumph. The colour red symbolises military strength and magnanimity, while gold is generosity and elevation of the mind.