Map of Scotland showing where the Fyall arms are recorded
The Fyall 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 Fyall 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 Fyall Family in Scotland
The surname Fyall is deeply rooted in the history of Scotland, with records confirming that families bearing this name were well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. The name is considered a locational or topographical surname, likely derived from the geography of the Scottish Lowlands where early ancestors lived near specific hills or fields. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a rapidly changing city, and families like the Fyalls were part of the growing urban population that contributed to the local trades and professional life of the capital. Because the name appears in parish registers and legal documents from this era, it is clear that the family was integrated into the social and economic fabric of the city long before the modern age. While the exact origins of the name remain a subject of study, its consistent presence in Scottish records highlights a long-standing connection to the cultural development of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fjall
Old Norse word for a mountain or a fell.
This name
FyallA topographic name for someone who lived near or on a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Faul
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms (Edinburgh)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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
