A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bairnsfather family of Scotland.
Reg. 8332 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. three chev. ar. each charged with as many mullets sa”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Bairnsfather Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Bairnsfather arms are recorded
The Bairnsfather 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 Bairnsfather 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 Bairnsfather Family in Scotland
The surname Bairnsfather is a descriptive name that originated in Scotland, likely serving as a nickname for a person who was known as a "bairn’s father" or a man who had fathered a child. While the name is relatively rare, historical records confirm that the family was well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, the city was a bustling center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Bairnsfathers were often part of the growing urban professional or merchant classes. The name reflects the common practice in medieval and early modern Scotland of creating surnames based on personal traits or family roles. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had integrated into the social fabric of the capital, leaving behind traces in local parish registers and legal documents that confirm their presence during a time of significant cultural and economic change in Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bairn and Fæder
Old English words for child and male parent.
This name
BairnsfatherA descriptive occupational or nickname denoting the father of a child.
also spelled
Bairnsfader
Barnsfather
Bairnsfathir
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. Old Parish Registers, Edinburgh. Series 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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
