Map of Scotland showing where the Dalgleish arms are recorded
The Dalgleish arms were recorded in Scotscraig, 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 Dalgleish 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 Dalgleish Family in Scotland
The surname Dalgleish originates from the Scottish Borders, specifically from the lands of Dalgleish in the parish of Ettrick. The name is topographical, meaning it was derived from the landscape where the family first settled. In the Old Scots language, the name likely combines elements describing a valley or a meadow. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, which was then a growing center for law, trade, and intellectual life. Records confirm that Dalgleish families were active in the capital by 1748, where they participated in the city's professional and merchant classes during a period of significant urban expansion. This transition from rural landholders in the Borders to urban residents in Edinburgh reflects the broader social shifts occurring in Scotland during the Enlightenment.
Dalgleish Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dalgleish
Derived from the Gaelic words for valley and green field.
This name
DalgleishRefers to a person who lived in the green valley or meadow.
also spelled
Dalgleis
Dalgliesh
Dalglish
Related arms
Dougallrecorded with Dalgleish, same area
Sharprecorded with Dalgleish, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
National Records of Scotland. Register of Testaments, Edinburgh Commissariot, CC8/8
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
