Map of Scotland showing where the Burrill arms are recorded
The Burrill 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 Burrill 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 Burrill Family in Scotland
The family name Burrill is rooted in the history of Northern England and Scotland, where it likely originated as a descriptive occupational name. Etymologists often link the name to the Middle English word "burel," which referred to a coarse, reddish-brown woolen cloth. People who manufactured or sold this specific type of fabric were frequently identified by this term, which eventually became a hereditary surname. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was well-established in urban centers like Edinburgh. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Burrill family were active participants in the social and economic life of the city during this period. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community, contributing to the professional and trade networks that defined life in Scotland’s capital during the Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Borel
Derived from the Old French word for reddish-brown or dark-colored.
This name
BurrillA locational or descriptive surname referring to someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.
also spelled
Burrell
Burrill
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.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
