A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burnside family of Scotland.
Reg. 5432 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a chev. or, betw. three boars' heads couped ar. lying fesseways”
ScotlandWhitlaw, c. 1748
Where the Burnside Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Burnside arms are recorded
The Burnside arms were recorded in Whitlaw, 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 Burnside 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 Burnside Family in Scotland
The surname Burnside is a classic example of a locational name, which was historically given to families living near a specific geographical feature. In this case, the name originated from those who resided beside a burn, the Scots word for a small stream or brook. While the family name appears in various regions across Scotland, records confirm that members of the Burnside family were well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a hub of intellectual and social growth, and families with this name were often integrated into the city’s developing professional and merchant classes. Because the name describes a common landscape feature, it likely emerged independently in several different locations before becoming a fixed family name passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burn and Side
A small stream or brook and the edge or slope of land.
This name
BurnsideRefers to someone who lived near the bank or edge of a stream.
also spelled
Burnsyde
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 Register of Testaments, 1748
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
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
