Clan Arbuthnott in 1779. The previous clan chief was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (1945) and was appointed Knight of the Thistle and Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In Scotland he headed the Venerable Order of Saint John. The present Viscount of Arbuthnott and chief of Clan Arbuthnott succeeded to the position on his father's death in 2012. The current chief of Clan Arbuthnott is Keith Arbuthnott, 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott, Lord Inverbervie and Chief of the Name and Arms of Arbuthnott. Members of Clan Arbuthnott can show their allegiance to the clan by wearing a crest badge which
John Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1986 New Year Honours, and made a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT) in 1996. Following Arbuthnott's death, a service of thanksgiving for his life was held at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen, on 14 September 2012. Arbuthnott was the son of Major General (Robert) Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott. He married Mary Elizabeth Darley Oxley (died 16 January 2010) on 3 September 1949; they had two children, one son and one daughter: John Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott John Campbell Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott,