A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Armour family of Scotland.
Reg. 6269 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. on a chev. az. betw. three arms in armour fesseways ppr. embowed of the second three mullets of the first”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Armour Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Armour arms are recorded
The Armour 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 Armour 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 Armour Family in Scotland
The surname Armour is an occupational name that originated in medieval times to describe a person who made or repaired suits of metal protection for soldiers. Because craftsmen often lived in close proximity to the centers of trade and military activity, the family name became established in various Scottish regions well before the eighteenth century. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had already evolved from a simple job description into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. These early family members in Edinburgh were part of a growing urban population during a period of significant social and economic change in Scotland. Their presence in the capital suggests they were likely integrated into the city’s trade guilds or professional classes, which were essential to the development of the region during the mid-eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Armatura
Latin term referring to defensive equipment or armor.
This name
ArmourAn occupational surname for a maker or repairer of suits of armor.
also spelled
Armor
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 Register of Marriages, 1701–1800. Reference OPR 685/1
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
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
