A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geddes family of Scotland.
Reg. 1704 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. an inescutcheon ar. betw. three pikes' heads couped or”
ScotlandRachan, c. 1748
Where the Geddes Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Geddes arms are recorded
The Geddes arms were recorded in Rachan, 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 Geddes 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 Geddes Family in Scotland
The surname Geddes is of Scottish origin and is linked to the geography of the Highlands and the Lowlands. The name is derived from the Old Norse word gedda, which refers to a pike fish, suggesting that early ancestors may have lived near waters where these fish were common or perhaps earned the name through a physical resemblance or a specific skill. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the Geddes family were well-established in Edinburgh, a city that served as a major center for trade and intellectual growth during the Scottish Enlightenment. These early residents were part of a society that was rapidly modernizing, and they likely contributed to the professional and merchant classes that defined the urban life of the era. As the family grew in the capital, they became woven into the fabric of Scottish history, moving from their regional roots to participate in the development of one of Europe’s most significant cultural hubs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gedda
Old Norse term for a pike fish.
This name
GeddesDerived from a nickname for a person resembling a pike fish or living near a pike-filled stream.
also spelled
Ged
Related arms
Gedvariant 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, Old Parish Registers of Births and Marriages, 1748
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fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
