A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fiddes family of Scotland.
Reg. 9066 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a chev. betw. two mullets sa. a stag's head erased ar”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Fiddes Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Fiddes arms are recorded
The Fiddes 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 Fiddes 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 Fiddes Family in Scotland
The surname Fiddes is deeply rooted in the history of northeastern Scotland, particularly within the regions of Aberdeenshire and the city of Edinburgh. The name is likely topographic in origin, derived from the lands of Fiddes in the parish of Foveran, where early families established themselves as landowners and tenants during the medieval period. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had expanded its reach, with documented records confirming their presence in Edinburgh by 1748. During this era, members of the Fiddes family were often involved in the growing professional and mercantile classes of the Scottish capital, contributing to the city's intellectual and economic life. As the family moved away from their rural origins, they integrated into the urban fabric of Scotland, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the broader movement of Scottish families from the countryside to the developing cities during the Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fid
Derived from the Latin word fides meaning faith or loyalty.
This name
FiddesA locational surname originating from the lands of Fiddes in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
also spelled
Fiddis
Phiddes
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, Edinburgh Commissariot, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
