Finding Meaning In My Shield

Jack Handey's Humorous Takes on Flag Symbols

Reading thru the meaning of flag symbols, I really wondered if the meaning of BATS was historically "Eternal Life". I mean, mine has 3 BLACK BATS, 2 above, one below, A BIG BLACK STRIPE on my Baucom's coat of arms/family shield.....
Black (Sable) = Constancy or grief
Bat = Awareness of the powers of darkness and chaos
Fess - Military belt or girdle of honour = represents readiness to serve the public

However, upon further internetting, I found a site that says we're Scottish (as I always suspected) but the shield is different with a blue shield with three red roses on a silver bend.

Bend/Bendy Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection
Blue (Azure) = Truth and loyalty
Silver or White (Argent) = Peace and sincerity
Dove = Loving constancy and peace; the Holy Spirit; with an olive branch in its bill, it signifies a harbinger of good tidings
Mark of the seventh son; Hope and joy;
Rose, Red = Grace and beauty


Origin Displayed: Scottish

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Baucom include Balcom, Balcome, Balcomb, Balcomm, Balcombe and others.

First found in Fifeshire, in Scotland, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Scots left their country by the thousands to travel to Australia and North America. Desperate for freedom and an opportunity to fend for themselves, many paid huge fees and suffered under terrible conditions on long voyages. Still, for those who made the trip, freedom and opportunity awaited. In North America, many fought their old English oppressors in the American War of Independence. In recent years, Scottish heritage has been an increasingly important topic, as clan societies and other organizations have renewed people's interest in their history. An examination of passenger and immigration lists shows many early settlers bearing the name of Baucom: Alexander Balcom, who came to Rhode Island in 1664 , Henry Balcom, who is on record in Charlestown, MA in 1664; Jonas Balcom, who arrived in Nova Scotia some time between 1735-1835.

And the Baucom motto:

Dum Spiro Spero

While I have breath I hope.

It's nice to see that the internet grows and adds information. I looked for these meanings about 2+ years ago and couldn't find a thing