A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chein family of Scotland.
Reg. 9537 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a cross flory or”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Chein Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Chein arms are recorded
The Chein 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 Chein 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 Chein Family in Scotland
The family name Chein carries a rich history rooted in the cultural landscape of Scotland. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of Edinburgh. During this period, Edinburgh was a vibrant center of the Scottish Enlightenment, a time when the city became a hub for intellectuals, merchants, and skilled tradespeople. Families living in the capital at this time often participated in the rapid expansion of the city’s professional classes and the growth of its famous university. As the name appears in local documentation from 1748, it suggests that the family was part of the urban fabric of Scotland during a transformative era of modernization and social change. While the name may have evolved from older linguistic roots, its presence in the heart of Edinburgh highlights a long-standing connection to the administrative and social life of the Scottish Lowlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceann
Gaelic word meaning head or top of a geographical feature.
This name
CheinA topographical surname referring to someone who lived at the head of a valley or glen.
also spelled
Cheyne
Cheyney
Related arms
Cheynevariant spelling
Cheyneyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Commissariot Record of Edinburgh, 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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
