A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Butter family of Scotland.
Reg. 4789 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a cross patonce sa. betw. four hearts ppr”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Butter Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Butter arms are recorded
The Butter 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 Butter 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 Butter Family in Scotland
The surname Butter is a topographic name that originated in Scotland, likely describing someone who lived near a specific landmark or worked in a particular trade. While the name is often associated with the northern regions of the country, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, and families like the Butters were often involved in the city’s expanding merchant classes or professional guilds. The name itself is thought to derive from Old English or Old Norse roots, potentially relating to a person who lived near a prominent piece of land or a specific type of dwelling. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had integrated into the urban fabric of Scotland’s capital, contributing to the social and economic life of a city undergoing significant modernization.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Buttari
Old French term for a maker or seller of wine casks.
This name
ButterAn occupational surname for a cooper or someone who worked with barrels.
also spelled
Buttar
Related arms
Johnstonerecorded with Butter, same area
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, Register of Testaments, Edinburgh Commissariot, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
