Map of Scotland showing where the Calder arms are recorded
The Calder arms were recorded in Nairn, c. 1748.
Nairnshire was a small strip of farming country on the Moray Firth. Its landed families were few and long-established, and long establishment brought arms with it.
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 Calder 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 Nairn.
Origin & History of the Calder Family in Scotland
The surname Calder is of territorial origin, meaning it was originally taken from the lands where the family lived. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "cal," meaning hard or cold, and "dobhar," meaning water, which together describe a river or stream. While the name is associated with various locations across Scotland, the family established a strong presence in the town of Nairn by the mid-eighteenth century. During this period, Nairn was a bustling royal burgh where families often held positions in local trade or agriculture. By 1748, individuals bearing the Calder name were well-integrated into the social and economic life of the region, contributing to the development of the community through their work and local civic involvement.
Calder Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Caleturos
A Brythonic term referring to a hard or stony river.
This name
CalderDerived from a Scottish place name describing a settlement located by a rocky stream.
also spelled
Caldar
Caldare
Calderre
Related arms
Robertsonrecorded with Calder, 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
Johnston, James B., Place-Names of Scotland, 1934
National Records of Scotland, Nairn Burgh Records, B51
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
