Map of Scotland showing where the Fall arms are recorded
The Fall arms were recorded in Dunbar, 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 Fall 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 Fall Family in Scotland
The surname Fall is primarily of Scottish origin, with deep roots tied to the coastal regions of East Lothian and the city of Edinburgh. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established themselves as prominent merchants and shipowners who played a significant role in the maritime trade of the North Sea. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Fall family were influential figures in Edinburgh society, often involved in the lucrative trade of goods between Scotland and Scandinavia. The name itself is thought to be topographic in nature, likely derived from the Old Norse word "fall," which referred to a slope or a place where a stream descended. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family may have taken the name from a specific geographic feature near their original homesteads before they expanded their influence into the bustling urban centers of Scotland.
Fall Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Fjall
Old Norse term referring to a mountain or high hill.
This name
FallA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent hill or mountain.
also spelled
Faul
Related arms
Cospatrickrecorded with Fall, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Campbell, R. H., Scotland Since 1707: The Rise of an Industrial Society, 1985
Devine, T. M., The Scottish Merchant Class, 1760-1815, 1975
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
