A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Girvan family of Scotland.
Reg. 9375 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
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. three salmon naiant fesseways in pale ar”
ScotlandAchairne, c. 1770
Where the Girvan Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Girvan arms are recorded
The Girvan arms were recorded in Achairne, c. 1770.
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 III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Girvan 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 Girvan Family in Scotland
The surname Girvan is a locational name that originates from the town of Girvan in Ayrshire, Scotland. People who moved away from this coastal settlement often adopted the name to identify their place of origin to others. By the late 18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, a city that was then experiencing a major cultural and architectural expansion known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Records from 1770 show that members of the Girvan family were active participants in this urban environment, likely contributing to the growing trade and professional sectors of the capital. As families moved from rural areas into the city, they helped shape the social fabric of Edinburgh during a time of significant historical change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garbhan
Derived from the Gaelic word for rough or coarse.
This name
GirvanA habitational name originating from a town in Ayrshire, Scotland, meaning rough river.
also spelled
Girven
Girvin
Gyrvan
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, Edinburgh, 1770
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fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
