Map of Scotland showing where the Gilchrist arms are recorded
The Gilchrist arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1657.
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.
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 Gilchrist Family in Scotland
The surname Gilchrist originates from the Gaelic phrase *Gille Crìost*, which translates literally to "servant of Christ." This name was historically common in the Scottish Highlands and Galloway, where it was often used as a personal name before evolving into a hereditary surname. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the urban center of Edinburgh. Records from 1657 confirm that members of the family were living and working within the city during this period of significant political and social change in Scotland. As the family integrated into the life of the capital, they transitioned from their traditional roots in the Gaelic-speaking regions to become part of the growing professional and merchant classes of the Lowlands.
Gilchrist Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Gille Chriosd
Gaelic for servant of Christ.
This name
GilchristA Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic phrase meaning servant or devotee of Christ.
also spelled
Gilchrest
Gilcrist
Gilcrest
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. Register of Testaments, Edinburgh Commissariot, CC8/8
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
