A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aird family of Scotland.
Reg. 5009 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. on a chev.. betw. three wolves' heads erased ar. a falcon's head couped of the first”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Aird Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Aird arms are recorded
The Aird arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Aird 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 Scotland.
Origin & History of the Aird Family in Scotland
The surname Aird is rooted in the landscape of Scotland, as it is derived from the Gaelic word "àird," which refers to a high place, a hill, or a promontory. This suggests that the earliest people to carry the name likely lived near a prominent geographical feature or a coastal height. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, a city that was rapidly transforming into a center of intellectual and economic growth during the Scottish Enlightenment. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Aird family were active participants in the urban life of the capital, working within the trades and professional circles that defined the city at that time. As the family integrated into the bustling environment of Edinburgh, they became part of the long history of Scottish urban migration, moving from the rural highlands and lowlands to contribute to the development of one of Europe’s most significant historical cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ard
A Gaelic term meaning high or elevated.
This name
AirdRefers to someone who lived on or near a high piece of land.
also spelled
Ayrd
Ayrde
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Burgh Register of Sasines, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
