A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cochrane family of Scotland.
Reg. 4261 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, grand quarters, counterquartered, 1st and 4th, ar. a chev. gu. betw. three boars' heads erased az. on a chief of the second a sphinx couchant or, for COCHRANE; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a saltire sa. nine lozenges of the field, for BLAIR; 2nd, grand quarter, az. nine stars, three, three, two, and one ar., for BAILLIE; 3rd, grand quarter, ar. three piles in point gu., for WISHART; 4th, grand quarter, counterquartered. 1st and 4th, gu. three lions ramp. ar., for ROSS; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a man's heart ppr. within a fetterlock sa”
Scotlandc. 1837
Where the Cochrane Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Cochrane arms are recorded
The Cochrane arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1837.
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.
William IV
Sovereign of the period
William IV
1830–1837
Reigning in Scotland when the Cochrane 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 Cochrane Family in Scotland
The surname Cochrane originates from the lands of Cochrane in Renfrewshire, Scotland, where the family first established their roots during the medieval period. The name is locational in nature, meaning it was taken from the specific geographic area where the family lived and held property. Over the centuries, members of the family moved from these rural beginnings into the growing urban centers of the country. By the early nineteenth century, the family had a documented presence in Edinburgh, which was then a bustling hub of industry and intellectual life. This transition reflects the broader movement of Scottish families who sought new opportunities in the capital city during the 1830s. As the family settled in Edinburgh by 1837, they became part of the city's evolving social fabric during a time of significant national change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cochran
Derived from the Gaelic words for red and bog or marsh.
This name
CochraneA habitational name originating from a place in Renfrewshire, Scotland, signifying red marsh.
also spelled
Cochran
Cochrain
Kokran
Cochren
Related arms
Abercrombiesimilar arms
Bardouinsimilar arms
Bourguignonsimilar arms
Courtois du Beuzidousimilar arms
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, Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms, 1837
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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
