A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cristy family of Scotland.
Reg. 3941 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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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. a chev. sa. betw. three wells gu (another, of the second)”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Cristy Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Cristy arms are recorded
The Cristy 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 Cristy 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 Cristy Family in Scotland
The family name Cristy is a variant of the more common name Christie, which originated as a shortened form of the name Christopher. In the Scottish context, this name was historically linked to the northern regions and the Lowlands, where it became well-established by the eighteenth century. By 1748, records confirm that members of the Cristy family were living and working in Edinburgh. During this period, Edinburgh was a vibrant center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Cristys were often part of the growing professional and merchant classes that helped shape the city. These early residents likely navigated a society transitioning from traditional clan structures toward a more urban and industrial way of life. Their presence in the capital suggests they were integrated into the social and economic fabric of Scotland during a time of significant cultural change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Christophorus
Derived from Greek meaning bearing or carrying Christ.
This name
CristyA diminutive form of Christopher, signifying a follower or bearer of Christ.
also spelled
Christy
Cristie
Cristey
Related arms
Christopher-Nisbet-Hamiltonvariant spelling
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, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1748
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