Map of Scotland showing where the Cousar arms are recorded
The Cousar 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 Cousar 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 Cousar Family in Scotland
The family name Cousar is deeply rooted in the history of the Scottish Lowlands, with documented evidence placing the family in Edinburgh as early as 1748. The name is considered a variant of the older Scottish surname Cosser, which likely originated as an occupational name for a person who worked as a dealer or a merchant. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, providing a stable environment for families to establish their roots. As the city expanded, members of the Cousar family became part of the local urban fabric, contributing to the professional and social life of Scotland’s capital. Over time, the spelling evolved into its current form, reflecting the phonetic shifts common in the Scottish dialect of that era. By settling in such a prominent city, the early Cousar family members were positioned to participate in the significant cultural and economic changes that defined the Scottish Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cousin
Derived from the Old French word for a kinsman or relative.
This name
CousarA Scottish habitational or descriptive surname denoting a kinsman or member of an extended family group.
also spelled
Cosser
Cossart
Cosars
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, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
