A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dowine family of Scotland.
Reg. 5928 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. a fesse engr. betw. three boars' heads erased or”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Dowine Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Dowine arms are recorded
The Dowine 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 Dowine 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 Dowine Family in Scotland
The surname Dowine is a rare variant rooted in the linguistic landscape of Lowland Scotland. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in Edinburgh, a city that served as a major hub for trade and intellectual growth during the Scottish Enlightenment. The name likely evolved from older Gaelic or Scots descriptors, potentially linked to the physical appearance of an ancestor or a specific geographic location. During the 1740s, Edinburgh was undergoing significant urban expansion, and families like the Dowines were often part of the growing class of skilled tradespeople or merchants who helped shape the city’s civic life. While the name remains uncommon today, its presence in the capital during this period suggests that the family was well-integrated into the social and economic fabric of eighteenth-century Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dubh
A Gaelic term meaning dark or black.
This name
DowineDerived from a descriptive nickname for a person with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Dowyn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Marriages, 1701–1800
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, Edinburgh
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
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
