A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Corser family of Scotland.
Reg. 9098 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. three horses' heads couped sa. bridled of the field”
EdinburghEdinburgh, c. 1748
Where the Corser Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Corser arms are recorded
The Corser arms were recorded in Edinburgh, c. 1748.
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 Corser 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 Corser Family in Scotland
The surname Corser is believed to have originated as an occupational name in Scotland, likely referring to a person who worked as a horse dealer or a trader of livestock. The term itself is derived from the Middle English word "corser," which was a common way to describe someone who bought and sold horses at markets. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh. Records confirm that members of the Corser family were living and working in the city by 1748, participating in the urban growth and commercial life of the Scottish capital during the Enlightenment. Over time, the family name became firmly rooted in the region, reflecting the transition of many Scottish families from rural trade roles into the professional and civic life of developing cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crux
A Latin term referring to a cross or a gibbet.
This name
CorserAn occupational surname for a maker of crosses or someone living near a roadside cross.
also spelled
Corsar
Related arms
Corsarvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland. Edinburgh Register of Testaments, CC8/8/111
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
