A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beattie family of Scotland.
Reg. 2710 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a pale sa. surmounted of a sword az. hilt and pomel or, betw. two keys wards outward of the third in fesse, in chief two mascles gu. and another in base of the fourth”
AberdeenJames Beattie · Aberdeen, c. 1782
Where the Beattie Arms Were Recorded
Aberdeen
Map of Scotland showing where the Beattie arms are recorded
The Beattie arms were recorded in Aberdeen, c. 1782.
Aberdeen was a granite trading town on the north-east coast with farming country behind it. Merchants who prospered bought estates inland, and buying an estate was what brought a family its 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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Beattie 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 Aberdeen.
Origin & History of the Beattie Family in Scotland
The surname Beattie is a Scottish name that originated as a shortened form of the name Bartholomew. It was most common in the Scottish Borders and the northeastern regions of Scotland, including Aberdeen. By the late 18th century, families carrying this name were well-established in urban centers like Aberdeen, where they often worked in trade, craftsmanship, or early industrial roles. The name evolved over time from older variations like Bety or Betie, reflecting the way spoken language changed in local communities. Because many families lived in these busy port cities during the 1780s, they were often part of the growing merchant class that helped shape the local economy and social life of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomew
Derived from the Aramaic name meaning son of Talmai or abounding in furrows.
This name
BeattieA Scottish diminutive form of Bartholomew, historically associated with the Border Reiver clans.
also spelled
Beaty
Bety
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, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1782
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
swordJustice, and military honour
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
