A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fife family of Scotland.
Reg. 2806 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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, a lion ramp. gu. armed and langued az. on a chief of the second a crescent betw. two stars of the first”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Fife Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Fife arms are recorded
The Fife 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 Fife 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 Fife Family in Scotland
The surname Fife is a locational name that originates from the historic region of Fife in eastern Scotland. During the Middle Ages, people often adopted the names of the places where they lived or worked to help identify them within their communities. As individuals moved away from their ancestral homes, they carried these place names with them, eventually turning them into permanent family surnames. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Fife family were well-established in the city of Edinburgh. These early residents were part of a growing urban population during a time when Scotland was experiencing significant social and economic changes. Their presence in the capital suggests that the family had integrated into the professional and civic life of the city by 1748.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fib
A Pictish term referring to a region or district in Scotland.
This name
FifeA habitational name derived from the ancient Pictish kingdom of Fife.
also spelled
Fyfe
Fyffe
Related arms
Fyffevariant spelling
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, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, CC8/8/111
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
