Map of Scotland showing where the Coull arms are recorded
The Coull arms were recorded in Elgin, c. 1748.
Elgin, now Moray, was rich farming country on Scotland's north-east coast with a cathedral at its centre. Church and land both brought standing, and standing was marked with arms.
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 Coull 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 Elgin.
Origin & History of the Coull Family in Scotland
The surname Coull is deeply rooted in the history of northeastern Scotland, particularly within the region of Moray. While the name appears in various spellings throughout historical documents, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the town of Elgin by 1748. The name is often associated with the Gaelic word *cùil*, which refers to a nook, a corner, or a secluded place, suggesting that early ancestors may have lived in a sheltered or tucked-away location. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community life of Elgin, participating in the trade and social structures that defined this historic cathedral town. Over the generations, the Coull name became a fixture of the local landscape, reflecting the broader migration patterns and social development of the Scottish Highlands and lowlands during the eighteenth century.
Coull Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Coll
A Gaelic term derived from the word for hazel or wood.
This name
CoullA habitational name referring to someone from the Isle of Coll.
also spelled
Coule
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Register of Testaments, 1748
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Moray Council Archives, Elgin Burgh Records, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
lionCourage, strength and royalty
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
