A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bathgate family of Scotland.
Reg. 5705 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. three suns in splendour or”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Bathgate Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Bathgate arms are recorded
The Bathgate 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 Bathgate 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 Bathgate Family in Scotland
The surname Bathgate is a locational name, meaning it originated from the town of Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland. The name itself is derived from the Gaelic words for "boar" and "wood," suggesting that the area was once a dense forest inhabited by wild swine. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name had established a firm presence in the nearby city of Edinburgh. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Bathgate family were active participants in the urban life of the Scottish capital during a time of significant social and industrial change. As the family moved from their ancestral lands into the growing city, they integrated into the trades and professional circles that defined Edinburgh during the Enlightenment. This transition highlights how many Scottish families moved from rural origins to become part of the developing middle class in major metropolitan centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bath-gate
Old English words for a boat or bath and a road.
This name
BathgateRefers to a settlement or road located near a boat landing or water crossing.
also spelled
Bathgait
Bathgaite
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
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
