Map of Scotland showing where the Brisbane arms are recorded
The Brisbane arms were recorded in Renfrew, c. 1748.
Renfrewshire lay along the lower Clyde, farming country that later filled with trade. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is what brought them into the register.
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 Brisbane 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 Renfrew.
Origin & History of the Brisbane Family in Scotland
The family name Brisbane originates from the historic county of Renfrewshire in Scotland. The name is locational, meaning it was likely adopted by families living near the lands of Bishopton or the River Gryffe. By the year 1748, records confirm that members of the Brisbane family were well-established residents of Renfrew. During this period, the family was deeply integrated into the local community, often participating in the agricultural and civic life of the Scottish Lowlands. As the eighteenth century progressed, the family name became synonymous with the regional identity of Renfrew, reflecting the broader patterns of Scottish settlement and the growth of local landholding families throughout the Clyde Valley.
Brisbane Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Brizebane
Old French for break bone or a forceful, aggressive individual.
This name
BrisbaneA locational surname originating from a town in Normandy, France.
also spelled
Brysbane
Related arms
Brisbon, or Brisbanevariant spelling
Whiterecorded with Brisbane, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Crawfurd, George. The History of the Shire of Renfrew. 1710
National Records of Scotland. Renfrewshire Sasines, RS42
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
pillowRest earned, and authority at ease
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
pillowRest earned, and authority at ease
