A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Emsley family of Scotland.
Reg. 0538 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Vert an eagle displ. ar”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Emsley Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Emsley arms are recorded
The Emsley 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 Emsley 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 Emsley Family in Scotland
The Emsley family name is rooted in the northern regions of England, likely originating as a topographic surname for people who lived near a specific meadow or clearing. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Scotland, with records confirming their residence in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a bustling center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Emsleys were often involved in the city’s growing trade and professional sectors. As the name moved northward, it became integrated into the local social fabric of the capital, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and economic opportunity that defined life in Georgian-era Britain. This transition from their northern English origins to the urban environment of Edinburgh highlights the mobility of families during a time of significant industrial and cultural change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Amsel
Germanic word for the blackbird species.
This name
EmsleyDerived from a nickname for someone with a cheerful disposition or dark hair.
also spelled
Emesley
Emslie
Related arms
Emesley, Ernele, or Evellvariant spelling
Emesly, or Elmesleyvariant spelling
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, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, Reference OPR 685/1
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
