A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Forret family of Scotland.
Reg. 9424 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
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)
“Sa. three boars' heads couped ar”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Forret Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Forret arms are recorded
The Forret 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 Forret 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 Forret Family in Scotland
The surname Forret is deeply rooted in the history of Scotland, with records confirming the family was well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. The name is likely topographic in origin, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific landmark or a piece of land known as a "forret." In the Scots language, this term often referred to a forward position or a piece of land situated in front of a larger estate or forest. During the eighteenth century, members of the Forret family in Edinburgh were often involved in the city’s growing professional and merchant classes. As the city expanded during the Scottish Enlightenment, these families played a quiet but steady role in the urban development of the capital. By tracing their presence through local parish registers and legal documents, historians can see that the Forrets were part of the backbone of Edinburgh society during a time of great cultural change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Forret
Derived from the Old French foret meaning a wooded area or forest.
This name
ForretA locational surname referring to someone who lived near or owned a forest.
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 City Parish Register of Baptisms, 1748
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boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
