A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Emslie family of Scotland.
Reg. 7683 · 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 Emslie Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Emslie arms are recorded
The Emslie 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 Emslie 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 Emslie Family in Scotland
The family name Emslie is primarily rooted in the northeastern regions of Scotland, particularly within Aberdeenshire, where it evolved as a variation of the name Elmslie. Historical records indicate that the name was well-established by the mid-eighteenth century, with documented members residing in Edinburgh as early as 1748. During this period, the family was often associated with the agricultural and merchant classes, reflecting the broader social mobility occurring in Scottish cities during the Enlightenment. The name likely originated as a topographic descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near a meadow or a grove of elm trees. As the family grew, they moved from rural farming communities into urban centers, where they contributed to the professional and trade sectors that defined the growth of Scottish society in the 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ames
Derived from the Germanic name Haimo meaning home or enclosure.
This name
EmslieA Scottish patronymic surname meaning son of Ames or son of the home ruler.
also spelled
Emesley
Emslie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, 1748
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
