Motto
"Te Oportet Alte Ferri"
" It behoves thee to bear thyself loftily"
Tayport, also called Ferryport on Craig or South Ferry, was
created a Burgh of Barony for Robert Durie of that Ilk in 1598-99 and
was raised to a Burgh of Regality in 1725 in favour of Robert Douglas
of Glenbervie.
It became a Police Burgh under its present name in 1887.
The arms, which were registered in honour of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth
II, are really a heraldic version of the non-armorial Burgh seal adopted in
1892.
The silver and black chequered pile with the red star recall the
lighthouse; silver and black are also the Young colours and thus
allude to the first Provost of the Burgh, Mr James Stephen Young.
The star could also refer to the Douglas connection and also to
the Scott family who had the lands of Scotscraig nearby.
The anchor is for the port and the ship for the ferry, which went
across the Firth to Broughty Ferry in Angus and is said to have been
the oldest in Scotland; on its sails are the Durie arms.
