A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aikman family of Scotland.
Reg. 1580 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a sinister hand holding an oaken batton paleways ppr. surmounted of a bend engr. gu”
ForfarLodurn · Forfar, c. 1748
Where the Aikman Arms Were Recorded
Forfar
Map of Scotland showing where the Aikman arms are recorded
The Aikman arms were recorded in Forfar, c. 1748.
Forfar, now called Angus, was farming country on Scotland's east coast between the hills and the sea. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is exactly what fills a register of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Aikman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Forfar.
Origin & History of the Aikman Family in Scotland
The surname Aikman is of Scottish origin and is traditionally associated with the Lowlands. The name is believed to be occupational, likely derived from the Middle English word for an oak man, which may have referred to a person who worked with oak timber or lived near a prominent oak tree. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the town of Forfar. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Aikman family were active participants in the local community of this historic royal burgh. During this era, families in Forfar were often involved in the local weaving and agricultural trades that defined the region. The persistence of the name in parish registers from this period suggests that the Aikmans were well-integrated into the social and economic life of Angus long before the industrial changes of the following century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ac
Old English word for an oak tree.
This name
AikmanA topographical name for someone who lived near an oak tree or an oak wood.
also spelled
Akeman
Aickman
Aykman
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Forfar Parish Register of Baptisms, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
handFaith, sincerity and justice
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
handFaith, sincerity and justice
