A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Borrowman family of Scotland.
Reg. 2444 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 chev. betw. three martlets gu. within a bordure of the last”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Borrowman Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Borrowman arms are recorded
The Borrowman 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 Borrowman 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 Borrowman Family in Scotland
The surname Borrowman is a locational name that likely originated in the Lowlands of Scotland. It is traditionally believed to be derived from the term "boroughman," which referred to a person who lived within a chartered town or burgh. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Edinburgh, as evidenced by records confirming their presence there in 1748. During this period, individuals with this name were often involved in the urban trades and civic life that defined the capital city. As the family grew, they became part of the industrious middle class that helped shape the economic and social landscape of Scotland during the Enlightenment. The name serves as a historical marker of those who held residency and legal standing within the bustling, walled streets of old Edinburgh.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Borough
A fortified settlement or town with municipal status.
This name
BorrowmanAn occupational surname for a person who lived in or served as an official of a town.
also spelled
Borroman
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
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
