A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chancellor family of Scotland.
Reg. 1420 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, a lion ramp. sa. on a chief gu. three mullets of the first”
LanarkShieldhill · Lanark, c. 1748
Where the Chancellor Arms Were Recorded
Lanark
Map of Scotland showing where the Chancellor arms are recorded
The Chancellor arms were recorded in Lanark, c. 1748.
Lanarkshire ran along the upper Clyde, farming country with coal beneath it. Its landed families were long-established, and long establishment is what brought them into the register.
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 Chancellor 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 Lanark.
Origin & History of the Chancellor Family in Scotland
The surname Chancellor originates from the medieval title of a high-ranking official, specifically one who served as a secretary or legal advisor in a royal or ecclesiastical court. Over time, this occupational title transitioned into a hereditary surname as families became associated with the duties and status of the office. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Lanark, Scotland. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Chancellor family were active in this region, where they integrated into the local community and contributed to the social and economic life of the area. This transition from a professional designation to a family name reflects the broader historical pattern of surnames evolving from the specific roles individuals performed within their medieval society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cancellarius
A Latin term for an official stationed at a lattice screen.
This name
ChancellorAn occupational title for a high-ranking official, secretary, or legal administrator.
also spelled
Chanellour
Chanceler
Related arms
Chanellourvariant spelling
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, Lanark Burgh Records, B21/1/12
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
