A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Balfour family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 5295 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
otterOne who lives life to the full
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de sa., ch. d'une tête de loutre du champ. C.: une sirène posée sur un rocher au nat., tenant de sa main dextre une tête de loutre de sa. et de sa sen. une tête et col de cygne, au nat. S.: à dextre une loutre, à sen. un cygne, le vol ouv., tous deux au nat. D.: OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA [Comp. Bruce lord Burleigh.]”
Britainc. 1607
Where the Balfour Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Balfour arms are recorded
The Balfour arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1607.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Britain when the Balfour arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Britain.
Origin & History of the Balfour Family in Britain
The surname Balfour originates from a place name in Fife, Scotland, derived from the Gaelic words for a place of pasture and the mouth of a river. While the family established deep roots in Scotland during the Middle Ages, members of the lineage eventually migrated southward into England. By 1607, records confirm that individuals bearing the Balfour name were settled in Kent. This movement was likely driven by the shifting political landscape following the Union of the Crowns in 1603, which encouraged families to seek new opportunities across the British Isles. As the family integrated into local life in Kent, they transitioned from their northern origins to become part of the evolving social fabric of southern England. This migration highlights how families moved and adapted during a period of significant national change in early modern Britain.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
otterOne who lives life to the full
Colours
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)
“Originally ar. on a chev. sa. an otter's head erased of the field, in base a saltire couped of the second, afterwards the undifferenced coat of BALFOUR of that Ilk”
FifeMountquhanny · Fife, c. 1607
Where the Balfour Arms Were Recorded
Fife
Map of Scotland showing where the Balfour arms are recorded
The Balfour arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1607.
Fife was farming country between two firths, with royal palaces and old burghs along its coast. Its landed families were numerous and close to the court, and closeness to the court brought 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1587–1625
Reigning in Britain when the Balfour 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 Fife.
Origin & History of the Balfour Family in Scotland
The name Balfour originates from a specific location in the region of Fife, Scotland. It is a topographic surname derived from the Gaelic words "baile," meaning a place or settlement, and "pàr," meaning a pasture or grazing land. By the early 17th century, the family was firmly established within this coastal area, where they held significant lands and influence. Historical records from 1607 confirm their presence in Fife, where they were deeply integrated into the local social and legal structures of the time. Over the generations, the family expanded their reach across Scotland, but their roots remain tied to the fertile landscapes of the Fife peninsula. This connection to the land defined their early identity and helped them secure a lasting place in Scottish history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
otterOne who lives life to the full
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a chev. sa. an otter's head erased of the field in base a rose gu”
FermanaghGlenawley · Fermanagh, c. 1645
Where the Balfour Arms Were Recorded
Fermanagh
Map of Ireland showing where the Balfour arms are recorded
The Balfour arms were recorded in Fermanagh, c. 1645.
Fermanagh was lake country in the north-west of Ireland, planted with settlers in the seventeenth century. The new landowners took formal grants of land, and those grants brought arms with them.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Britain when the Balfour arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Fermanagh.
Origin & History of the Balfour Family in Ireland
The Balfour family name arrived in Ireland during the seventeenth century as part of the broader movement of Scottish settlers into the province of Ulster. By 1645, records confirm that members of the family had established a significant presence in County Fermanagh. These early settlers were often granted land as part of the Plantation of Ulster, a government project designed to encourage loyalty to the British Crown in a region that had previously been under the control of local Gaelic lords. Life for the Balfours in Fermanagh during this period was defined by the challenges of building new estates in a rugged landscape while navigating the complex political and religious tensions of the time. Over the following decades, the family integrated into the local administration and social hierarchy, transitioning from newcomers to established landowners who played a role in the development of the county.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baile an Phobhair
Gaelic for place of the pasture or settlement of the cold spring.
This name
BalfourRefers to a location in Fife, Scotland, derived from Gaelic terms for a farmstead and a cold spring.
also spelled
Balfor
Balfore
Balfower
Related arms
Baxtersame arms
Collinsrecorded with Balfour, same area
Crawfurdrecorded with Balfour, same area
Doubletrecorded with Balfour, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland (Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum), 1306–1668
The National Archives (UK), State Papers Domestic, James I, 1607
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
otterOne who lives life to the full
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
otterOne who lives life to the full
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
