A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Calderwood family of Scotland.
Reg. 4233 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Erm. on a saltire gu. betw. four palm branches vert, five mascles ar”
Scotlandc. 1736
Where the Calderwood Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Calderwood arms are recorded
The Calderwood arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1736.
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 Calderwood 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 Calderwood Family in Scotland
The surname Calderwood is a locational name that originated from the lands of Calderwood in the parish of East Kilbride, located in the historic county of Lanarkshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words for a stream and a forest, suggesting that the first people to use this name lived near a wooded area along a river. By the early 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, where they became deeply integrated into the city’s professional and social life. Records from 1736 confirm that members of the Calderwood family were active in the capital during a time of significant urban growth and political change in Scotland. These early residents often held roles in law, medicine, or the church, helping to solidify the family name as a respected part of the Scottish middle class during the Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cald-wudu
Old English terms for cold and wood or forest.
This name
CalderwoodRefers to a person who lived near a cold or bleak forest.
also spelled
Calderwode
Related arms
Ainslierecorded with Calderwood, 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, CC8/8/102
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
