Map of Scotland showing where the Corgill arms are recorded
The Corgill 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 Corgill 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 Corgill Family in Scotland
The family name Corgill has roots tied to the rugged landscape of Scotland, with confirmed records placing the family in Edinburgh by 1748. During the mid-eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a bustling center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Corgills were part of a society transitioning from traditional rural life to the rapid growth of urban trade and industry. The name likely evolved as a locational surname, which was a common practice in Scotland when families moved from smaller settlements to larger cities. By establishing themselves in the capital during this era, the early Corgills were positioned at the heart of a period defined by significant social and economic change. Their presence in the city archives suggests they were likely involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that helped build the infrastructure of modern Edinburgh.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Thorcaill
Gaelic patronymic meaning son of Thorketill, a Norse personal name.
This name
CorgillA Scottish surname derived from the Norse name Thorketill, meaning Thor's cauldron or sacrificial vessel.
also spelled
Cargyll
Cargile
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 Marriages, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Commissariot Record of Edinburgh, Register of Testaments, 1748
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
