A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fairholm family of Scotland.
Reg. 3731 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, an anchor in pale gu”
ScotlandCraig Hall, c. 1748
Where the Fairholm Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Fairholm arms are recorded
The Fairholm arms were recorded in Craig Hall, 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 Fairholm 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 Fairholm Family in Scotland
The Fairholm surname is a classic example of a locational name, which was common in Scotland during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English words "fæger," meaning fair or beautiful, and "holm," which refers to a piece of flat land near a river or a small island. Families who lived on such terrain often adopted this description as their permanent surname. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Fairholms were well-established in the social and economic life of Edinburgh. Records confirm their presence in the city by 1748, where they were active as prominent merchants and bankers. This period was a time of great growth for the city, and the family played a notable role in the financial networks that helped shape the Scottish Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fæger and Holm
Old English for fair or beautiful and Old Norse for an island.
This name
FairholmRefers to a person who lived on a beautiful or pleasant river island.
also spelled
Faireholm
Faireholme
Related arms
Fullartonrecorded with Fairholm, same area
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, Register of Testaments, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Burgh Register of Sasines, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
