A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crossen family of Scotland.
Reg. 1397 · Scottish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Paly of six ar. and sa. a chev. gu”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Crossen Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Crossen arms are recorded
The Crossen 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 Crossen 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 Crossen Family in Scotland
The family name Crossen has deep roots in the Lowlands of Scotland, with historical records confirming that members of the family were well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. The name is generally considered a variation of the surname Cross, which was often used to describe someone who lived near a prominent stone cross or a crossroads. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a hub of rapid social and industrial change, and families like the Crossens were often involved in the city’s growing trade and craft guilds. As the family moved through the Scottish capital, they contributed to the local economy and the dense urban life that defined the city during the Enlightenment. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, reflecting the phonetic shifts common in Scottish records from that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crux
A Latin term referring to a cross or a wooden frame.
This name
CrossenDerived from a topographic name for someone who lived near a roadside cross or a stone crucifix.
also spelled
Crossin
Crosson
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 Edinburgh, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Register of Testaments, 1748
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