Map of Scotland showing where the Ethington arms are recorded
The Ethington 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 Ethington 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 Ethington Family in Scotland
The Ethington surname is a variant of the older English name Addington, which originated as a topographic or habitational name referring to a settlement of people associated with a man named Eadda. While the name has deep roots in the English Midlands, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Ethingtons were often part of the growing professional and merchant classes that defined the city. As the family moved northward, the spelling likely shifted to reflect local phonetic pronunciations and the unique linguistic patterns of the Scottish Lowlands. This migration highlights the mobility of families during the eighteenth century as they sought new opportunities in rapidly developing urban centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eadwine
Old English elements meaning prosperous friend or wealthy protector.
This name
EthingtonDerived from a locative surname referring to a settlement belonging to Eadwine's people.
also spelled
Edinton
Edyngton
Edynton
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
Mills, Anthony David. A Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1991
National Records of Scotland. Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, Series OPR 685/1
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
