A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Frater family of Scotland.
Reg. 9898 · Scottish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. two bars betw. nine martlets gu. three, three, and three”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Frater Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Frater arms are recorded
The Frater 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 Frater 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 Frater Family in Scotland
The surname Frater is rooted in the Latin word *frater*, which translates to brother. In medieval society, this name was often used as a descriptive term for members of religious orders or as a nickname for someone who acted in a brotherly or communal manner. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, a city then undergoing a period of significant intellectual and social growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Records from 1748 confirm that individuals bearing this name were integrated into the urban life of the Scottish capital, likely participating in the trades or professional circles that defined the city at that time. While the name originated as a title or a descriptor, it evolved into a hereditary surname that reflects the close-knit social structures of early modern Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
frater
A Latin noun meaning brother or member of a religious order.
This name
FraterAn occupational or descriptive surname originally denoting a brother or a friar.
also spelled
Frattor
Frattar
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
National Records of Scotland. Edinburgh Register of Testaments. Reference CC8/8/111. 1748
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
