A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blacklock family of Scotland.
Reg. 2362 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
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)
“Ar. three square padlocks sa”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Blacklock Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Blacklock arms are recorded
The Blacklock 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 Blacklock 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 Blacklock Family in Scotland
The surname Blacklock is of Scottish origin and is classified as a descriptive nickname. It likely began as a way to identify an individual by their physical appearance, specifically referring to someone with dark or black hair. While the name appears in various parts of Scotland, historical records confirm that members of the Blacklock family were well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, the city was a bustling center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Blacklocks were often involved in the growing professional and merchant classes of the capital. The name has remained a distinct part of the Scottish landscape for centuries, reflecting the common practice of turning personal traits into lasting family identifiers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blac and Loc
Old English for dark or black and a lock of hair.
This name
BlacklockA descriptive nickname for an individual characterized by having dark or black hair.
also spelled
Blacklok
Blacklake
Blackluck
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
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buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
