A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carstairs family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9110 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a chev. ar. betw. three primroses, slipped ppr., quartered (1766) with, or, a saltire and chief wavy of the last, for BRUCE, of Kinross”
FifeKilconquhar · Fife, c. 1766
Where the Carstairs Arms Were Recorded
Fife
Map of Scotland showing where the Carstairs arms are recorded
The Carstairs arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1766.
Fife was farming country between two firths, with royal palaces and old burghs along its coast. Its landed families were numerous and close to the court, and closeness to the court brought arms.
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 III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Carstairs 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 Fife.
Origin & History of the Carstairs Family in Scotland
The name Carstairs originates from a specific place in the Scottish Lowlands, derived from the parish of the same name in Lanarkshire. The name itself is a combination of the Old English word for a fortified place and the Gaelic word for a fortress, suggesting that the earliest people to bear the name were likely associated with the protection or administration of this strategic site. By the mid-eighteenth century, branches of the family had established a firm presence in the county of Fife. During this era, families often moved across the Scottish countryside to seek new opportunities in agriculture or trade. The move to Fife reflects a broader pattern of internal migration where families expanded their reach from their ancestral roots in the west toward the coastal regions of the east. This transition helped the name become a recognized part of the local community in Fife by 1766, marking a new chapter in the family history as they integrated into the social and economic life of the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. on a chev. ar. betw. three sunflowers slipped ppr. as many buckles of the field. Crest and Motto as the last”
HuntingdonWoodhurst · Huntingdon, c. 1810
Where the Carstairs Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Carstairs arms are recorded
The Carstairs arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1810.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 England in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Scotland when the Carstairs arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Carstairs Family in England
The surname Carstairs is primarily associated with a specific location in Scotland, but the family expanded into England as trade and migration patterns shifted during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. While the name originates from the parish of Carstairs in Lanarkshire, members of the family were firmly established in the English town of Huntingdon by 1810. During this era, Huntingdon served as a significant market town and a hub for transportation along the Great North Road. Families moving south often sought opportunities in agriculture, local administration, or the burgeoning mercantile sectors that supported the growing English economy. By settling in Huntingdon, the Carstairs family became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the community life of the region during a time of great industrial and social change in Britain.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Castrum
A Latin term referring to a fortified place or military camp.
This name
CarstairsDerived from a location in Lanarkshire, signifying a settlement situated near a fortified castle or camp.
also spelled
Carstares
Carster
Related arms
Bethunerecorded with Carstairs, 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, Kirk Session Records of Fife, CH2 series
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
