A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arkley family of Scotland.
Reg. 9563 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, on a chev. az. a garb of the, first in chief two stars gu”
ForfarshireDunninald · Forfarshire, c. 1748
Where the Arkley Arms Were Recorded
Forfarshire
Map of Scotland showing where the Arkley arms are recorded
The Arkley arms were recorded in Forfarshire, c. 1748.
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 Arkley 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 Forfarshire.
Origin & History of the Arkley Family in Scotland
The family name Arkley is historically rooted in the rugged landscape of eastern Scotland, with documented evidence placing the family in the county of Forfarshire by the year 1748. The name is considered a locational surname, which suggests that the earliest members likely took it from a specific place or farmstead where they resided. In the eighteenth century, Forfarshire was a region defined by its agricultural output and the growing textile industry in nearby towns like Dundee and Forfar. Families like the Arkleys were often connected to the land, working as tenant farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of the Scottish Lowlands. Over time, as individuals moved for work or marriage, the name spread from these rural roots into the developing urban centers, maintaining a distinct connection to the history of the Angus region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arc-leah
A clearing or meadow associated with an arch or bow.
This name
ArkleyDerived from Old English elements referring to a dweller near a clearing characterized by an arching feature.
also spelled
Arkly
Arklee
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Register of Testaments, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Forfarshire, 1748
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
