Map of Scotland showing where the Couden arms are recorded
The Couden 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 Couden 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 Couden Family in Scotland
The family name Couden has deep roots in the historic city of Edinburgh, where members of the family were firmly established by the mid-eighteenth century. During this era, Edinburgh was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Families like the Coudens often lived in the dense, vertical tenements of the Old Town, where they contributed to the local economy and social life of the capital. While the name is relatively rare, its presence in city records from 1748 suggests that the family was part of the stable urban population that helped shape the city during a time of significant modernization. By living and working in such a prominent location, these early ancestors helped secure the family name within the historical narrative of Scotland.
Couden Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cald-dun
Old English and Gaelic roots meaning cold hill or cold fort.
This name
CoudenA locational surname derived from a settlement situated on a cold or exposed hill.
also spelled
Cowden
Coudon
Coudin
Related arms
Coudonvariant spelling
Cowdenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Burgh Register of Deeds, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Commissariot Record of Edinburgh, Register of Testaments, 1748
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
