A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borland family of Scotland.
Reg. 7757 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
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)
“Barry of six ar. and sa. a boar ramp. ppr”
ScotlandInspector-General, c. 1800
Where the Borland Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Borland arms are recorded
The Borland arms were recorded in Inspector-General, c. 1800.
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 III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Borland 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 Borland Family in Scotland
The surname Borland is rooted in the landscape of Scotland, specifically derived from the Old Scots term "bordland." In medieval times, this word referred to land held by a lord or a church that was used to provide food for the household table. Families who lived on or managed these specific plots of land often adopted the name as a way to identify their origin and occupation. By the time the 1800s arrived, the Borland family had established a clear presence in Edinburgh. During this period, the city was undergoing a massive transformation known as the Scottish Enlightenment, which brought new opportunities in trade, law, and education. As the city expanded, families like the Borlands became part of the growing urban middle class, contributing to the development of the capital during a time of great social and industrial change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bor-land
Old English for a cultivated field or land held by a tenant.
This name
BorlandRefers to a person who lived on or worked land held by a feudal lord.
also spelled
Boreland
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 Edinburgh, 1800
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
