A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Annandale family of Scotland.
Reg. 8838 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ermineDignity and rank
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 chief and saltire gu. cantoned with two mascles, in the collar and base points az. and in the flanks a spot of erm”
AberdeenAuchterellon · Aberdeen, c. 1748
Where the Annandale Arms Were Recorded
Aberdeen
Map of Scotland showing where the Annandale arms are recorded
The Annandale arms were recorded in Aberdeen, c. 1748.
Aberdeen was a granite trading town on the north-east coast with farming country behind it. Merchants who prospered bought estates inland, and buying an estate was what brought a family its 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 Annandale 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 Aberdeen.
Origin & History of the Annandale Family in Scotland
The surname Annandale is a locational name that originates from the valley of the River Annan in the region of Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Historically, the name was tied to the land, as families often adopted the names of the places where they lived or held property. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name had spread beyond its southern roots. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of Aberdeen by 1748. During this period, Aberdeen was a bustling center for trade and education, suggesting that these early family members were likely involved in the growing mercantile or professional classes of the city. As the family moved north, they carried the history of their southern ancestors with them, blending their regional heritage into the vibrant life of the Scottish northeast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Annand
Derived from the Annan River meaning water or river in Celtic.
This name
AnnandaleRefers to the valley of the River Annan in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
also spelled
Anand
Annandale
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
Johnston, James B., Place-Names of Scotland, 1934
National Records of Scotland, Register of Testaments, Aberdeen Commissariot, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ermineDignity and rank
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ermineDignity and rank
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
