A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dempster family of Scotland.
Reg. 7318 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swordJustice, and military honour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, gu. a sword in bend ar. hilt and pommel or, surmounted by a fesse of the last; 2nd and 3rd, or, a lion ramp. gu. debruised by a ribbon in bend sa”
ScotlandPitliver, c. 1748
Where the Dempster Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Dempster arms are recorded
The Dempster arms were recorded in Pitliver, 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 Dempster 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 Dempster Family in Scotland
The surname Dempster originates from the Middle English word "demester," which was a professional title for a legal official or a judge. In medieval Scotland, a dempster was responsible for pronouncing the sentences of the court, acting as a voice for the law during a time when legal proceedings were often oral. By the time the family was established in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had transitioned from a specific job title to a hereditary surname passed down through generations. These early family members in the city likely lived during a period of significant social and economic growth as Edinburgh transformed into a center for the Scottish Enlightenment. Because the name was tied to the administration of justice, it suggests that the earliest ancestors held positions of responsibility within their local communities. Over time, the family name became a permanent marker of this legal heritage, reflecting the transition from a functional role in the courtroom to a lasting family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
domester
An official who pronounces judgment or passes a legal sentence.
This name
DempsterA hereditary legal officer or judge in a Scottish court.
also spelled
Demster
Demstar
Dempstar
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, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swordJustice, and military honour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swordJustice, and military honour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
