A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Braid family of Scotland.
Reg. 8799 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. a lion's head erased ar”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Braid Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Braid arms are recorded
The Braid 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 Braid 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 Braid Family in Scotland
The surname Braid is primarily associated with the Lowlands of Scotland, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for a person living near a broad stretch of land or a wide river. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, a city that was then undergoing a period of rapid intellectual and social growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Braid family were active participants in the urban life of the capital during this transformative era. As the city expanded beyond its ancient medieval walls, families like the Braids contributed to the local economy and the development of the professional classes. Their history reflects the broader movement of Scottish families who transitioned from rural roots to the bustling, modern environment of the nation's capital.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Breid
Old Norse word meaning broad or wide.
This name
BraidA topographic name for someone who lived near a broad stretch of land or water.
also spelled
Brayd
Braidy
Brayde
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
National Records of Scotland. Edinburgh Parish Registers, Old Parish Registers (Births and Baptisms), 1748
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
