A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gailey family of Scotland.
Reg. 6639 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a cross moline lozengy pierced ar”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Gailey Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Gailey arms are recorded
The Gailey 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 Gailey 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 Gailey Family in Scotland
The surname Gailey is primarily associated with the Lowlands of Scotland, where families bearing this name established roots long before the mid-eighteenth century. By 1748, records confirm that members of the Gailey family were well-integrated into the social and professional fabric of Edinburgh. During this era, the city was undergoing a period of significant intellectual and urban growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Families like the Gaileys were often part of the rising merchant and artisan classes who helped shape the city’s expanding economy. While the name likely evolved from regional nicknames or descriptive terms common in Middle Scots, its presence in the capital suggests that these early ancestors were active participants in the daily life, trade, and community development of one of Europe’s most historic cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gille
A Gaelic term meaning a servant or a devotee.
This name
GaileyDerived from a Gaelic phrase meaning servant of the stranger or foreigner.
also spelled
Gailey
Gaily
Gaylie
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
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, OPR 685/1
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