A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brechin family of Scotland.
Reg. 9596 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a representation of the Trinity ppr. otherwise, or, three piles in point gu”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Brechin Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Brechin arms are recorded
The Brechin 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 Brechin 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 Brechin Family in Scotland
The surname Brechin is a locational name that originates from the ancient royal burgh of Brechin in the county of Angus, Scotland. People who moved away from this town often adopted the name to identify their place of origin to others in new communities. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, a city that served as a major hub for trade and professional life during the Scottish Enlightenment. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the family were active residents of the capital, participating in the urban growth and social changes that defined the era. As the family settled into Edinburgh, they became part of the city’s evolving history, moving away from their rural roots in the north to contribute to the developing culture of Scotland’s primary administrative center.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brech
A Gaelic term referring to a speckled or spotted place.
This name
BrechinDerived from a place name in Angus, Scotland, signifying a location characterized by speckled terrain.
also spelled
Brechyn
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
Reid, Norman H., The Scottish Medieval Town, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
