A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Girvin family of Scotland.
Reg. 5878 · 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 Girvin Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Girvin arms are recorded
The Girvin 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 Girvin 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 Girvin Family in Scotland
The surname Girvin is deeply rooted in the history of the Scottish Lowlands, with records confirming that families bearing this name were established in Edinburgh by 1770. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Gaelic name Mac Gille Mhaoil, which translates to the son of the servant of the bald or tonsured one. Over many generations, the spelling evolved as families moved between different regions of Scotland and northern Ireland. By the late eighteenth century, members of the Girvin family were active participants in the urban development of Edinburgh during a period of significant social and economic growth. These early ancestors were likely part of the skilled working class or merchant groups that helped shape the city during the Scottish Enlightenment. Their presence in the capital city suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local community and played a role in the daily life of the region during this transformative era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gille Erbhinn
Gaelic phrase meaning servant of Saint Erbhinn.
This name
GirvinA Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term for a devotee of Saint Erbhinn.
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 Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, 1770
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fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
