A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cleland family of Scotland.
Reg. 6363 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 hare saliant guard. ar. with a hunting horn hanging about the neck vert, garnished gu. within a bordure counter compony of the second and first”
EdinburghEdinburgh, c. 1672
Where the Cleland Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Cleland arms are recorded
The Cleland arms were recorded in Edinburgh, c. 1672.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Scotland when the Cleland 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 Edinburgh.
Origin & History of the Cleland Family in Scotland
The Cleland family name originates from the lands of Cleland in the parish of Shotts, located in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The name is locational, meaning it was derived from the geographical area where the family first established their roots. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had expanded their presence into the growing urban center of Edinburgh. Records from 1672 confirm that individuals bearing the Cleland name were active participants in the social and professional life of the Scottish capital during this period. As the family moved away from their ancestral lands, they integrated into the merchant and legal classes of the city. This transition reflects the broader movement of Scottish families who sought new opportunities in centers of trade and government during the late seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kneland
Derived from the Old English words for land and a hill.
This name
ClelandA locational surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill or sloping land.
also spelled
Clelandt
Related arms
Gordonrecorded with Cleland, same area
Stirlingrecorded with Cleland, 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 the Privy Seal, 1672
National Records of Scotland, Testaments of the Commissariot of Edinburgh, 1672
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
bordureA difference between branches of one family
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
