A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bettie family of Scotland.
Reg. 6583 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. an eagle displ. ar. debruised by a fesse sa. charged with two mullets of the second”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Bettie Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Bettie arms are recorded
The Bettie 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 Bettie 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 Bettie Family in Scotland
The surname Bettie is a variation of the name Betty, which originated as a diminutive form of Elizabeth. In the mid-eighteenth century, the name was firmly established in the bustling city of Edinburgh. By 1748, records indicate that family members were active participants in the social and economic life of the Scottish capital. During this period, Edinburgh was undergoing a major transformation known as the Scottish Enlightenment, a time when the city became a global center for philosophy, medicine, and law. Families living in the city at this time were often involved in the growing merchant trades or the skilled crafts that supported the city’s rapid expansion. As the family settled into the urban landscape of Edinburgh, they became part of the long history of Scottish citizens who helped shape the cultural identity of the city during one of its most influential eras.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elisheba
Hebrew for my God is an oath or God is abundance.
This name
BettieA diminutive form of Elizabeth, signifying a pledged devotion to the divine.
also spelled
Betty
Bety
Related arms
Bettyvariant spelling
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
Devine, Tom, The Scottish Nation: 1700 to 2000, 1999
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, Edinburgh, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
