DONALD Trump has been accused of plagiarising a family crest, one of which is on display at his Turnberry resort.

It is claimed that Mr Trump’s heraldic arms is a near-identical copy of one registered in 1939 by Joseph Edward Davies, 

The copy, printed on everything from golf carts to socks, made a single small change: where the original said “Integritas”, it now says “Trump”.

Pictures reveal that the ‘plagiarised’ coat of arms is already on display at his golf resort in Turnberry.

Davies was an American diplomat and husband to Marjorie Merriweather Post, who built the Mar-a-Lago resort that now belongs to the president, and where it is believed he first saw the coat of arms. 

The similarity was spotted by Davies’ grandson, former US senator Joseph Tydings, on a visit to the resort. He told the media he had not given permission to the Trump Organisation to use the arms.

It drew the attention of heraldic officials in Scotland when Mr Trump attempted to brand a new golf course in Aberdeen with the adulterated arms.

They noticed that he hadn’t registered it with the Court of the Lord Lyon, which approves all applications for arms and has authority to litigate against anyone using a design improperly.

It drew the attention of heraldic officials in Scotland when Mr Trump attempted to brand a new golf course in Aberdeen with the adulterated arms. 

They noticed that he hadn’t registered it with the Court of the Lord Lyon, which approves all applications for arms and has authority to litigate against anyone using a design improperly.

Joseph Edward Davies was appointed by President Wilson to be Commissioner of Corporations in 1912, and First Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission in 1915. 

He was the second Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union and U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg. From 1939 to 1941 Davies was Special assistant to Secretary of State Hull, in charge of War Emergency Problems and Policies. 

From 1942 through 1946 he was Chairman of President Roosevelt’s War Relief Control Board. 

In the end, after a challenge by the Court of the Lord Lyon, the Trump Organisation altered the design it had taken from Mr Davies and was granted its own Scottish patent.

A spokeswoman for Trump Turnberry told the media: “Three chevronels are used to denote the sky, sand dunes and sea - the essential components of the [golf resort] site - and the double-sided eagle represents the dual nature and nationality of Trump’s heritage.”

She added: “The eagle clutches golf balls, making reference to the great game of golf, and the motto ‘Numquam Concedere’ is Latin for ‘Never Give Up’ - Trump’s philosophy.”