Map of Scotland showing where the Buchanan arms are recorded
The Buchanan arms were recorded in Stirling, c. 1672.
Stirling guarded the crossing between the Highlands and the Lowlands and held a royal castle. Families with business at court settled nearby, and closeness to the court brought arms.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Scotland when the Buchanan 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 Stirling.
Origin & History of the Buchanan Family in Scotland
The name Buchanan originates from a specific geographic location in the Lennox region of Scotland, specifically near the eastern shore of Loch Lomond. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "buth chanain," which translate to the house of the canon. This suggests that the early ancestors of the family held land that was associated with a religious office or a church official. By the 13th century, the family had established themselves as significant landowners in the area, often serving as loyal supporters of the Scottish Crown. Their influence eventually spread throughout the region, and by 1672, members of the family were well-established in Stirling. During this period, Stirling served as a vital administrative and military hub, and the presence of the Buchanan family there reflects their transition from local landowners to figures involved in the broader political and social life of the Scottish Lowlands.
Buchanan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Buth Chanain
Gaelic for house of the canon or house of the head.
This name
BuchananDerived from a Scottish place name referring to a religious dwelling or headland.
Related arms
Bontinerecorded with Buchanan, same area
Hamiltonrecorded with Buchanan, same area
Stirlingrecorded with Buchanan, same area
Youngrecorded with Buchanan, same area
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
Buchanan, John L., An Inquiry into the Genealogy and Present State of Ancient Scottish Surnames, 1793
National Records of Scotland, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland (Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum), 1306–1668
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bordureA difference between branches of one family
bordureA difference between branches of one family
