A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Glassford family of Scotland.
Reg. 0988 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a bend engr. betw. two spur-rowels gu”
LanarkLanark, c. 1748
Where the Glassford Arms Were Recorded
Lanark
Map of Scotland showing where the Glassford arms are recorded
The Glassford arms were recorded in Lanark, c. 1748.
Lanarkshire ran along the upper Clyde, farming country with coal beneath it. Its landed families were long-established, and long establishment is what brought them into the register.
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 Glassford 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 Lanark.
Origin & History of the Glassford Family in Scotland
The surname Glassford originates from a specific place name in the Lowlands of Scotland, derived from the parish of Glassford in South Lanarkshire. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words for a green or grey ford, suggesting that the first people to take the name lived near a notable river crossing in that region. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the nearby town of Lanark, as evidenced by records dating back to 1748. During this period, families in the area were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing trade networks of the Scottish central belt. As the family grew, members likely moved between the rural lands of the parish and the developing urban center of Lanark, helping to root the name firmly within the history of the Clyde Valley.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Glas-ford
A grey or green river crossing point.
This name
GlassfordDerived from a location in Lanarkshire, referring to a ford characterized by its grey or verdant appearance.
also spelled
Glassfurd
Glasfurd
Related arms
Glasfurdvariant 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
Johnston, James B., Place-Names of Scotland, 1934
National Records of Scotland, Kirk Session Records of Lanark, CH2/236
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
