A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dargie family of Scotland.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Barry of ten az. and or”
The Dargie 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.
Reigning in Scotland when the Dargie arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Dargie is primarily associated with the eastern regions of Scotland, with deep roots tracing back to the area surrounding the city of Edinburgh and the county of Angus. While the name appears in formal records as early as the mid-18th century, such as the documented presence of family members in Edinburgh in 1748, its origins are likely linked to the Scots language term "darg." In historical Scottish usage, a "darg" referred to a day’s work or a specific portion of labor, suggesting that the name may have originally functioned as an occupational descriptor for a hardworking laborer or a tenant farmer. Over generations, families bearing this name became established in local communities, often working in trades that supported the growing urban centers of Scotland. By the time the name appeared in official registers during the 1700s, it had already become a distinct identifier for families who were active participants in the social and economic life of the Scottish Lowlands.
A Gaelic term meaning red or ruddy in color.
