A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Glendonwyn family of Scotland.
Reg. 3182 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, ar. and sa. a cross parted per cross, indented and counterchanged of the same”
RoxburghRoxburgh, c. 1748
Where the Glendonwyn Arms Were Recorded
Roxburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Glendonwyn arms are recorded
The Glendonwyn arms were recorded in Roxburgh, c. 1748.
Roxburghshire was Scottish border country, fought over for three hundred years. Land was held in return for defending it, and a family that fought needed a shield it could be recognised by.
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 Glendonwyn 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 Roxburgh.
Origin & History of the Glendonwyn Family in Scotland
The name Glendonwyn is a locational surname that originates from the Scottish Borders, specifically deriving from the lands of Glendinning in the parish of Westerkirk. The name itself is rooted in the Cumbric language, which was spoken in the region long ago, and it translates roughly to the valley of the fort. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Roxburgh, where they integrated into the local community as landowners and farmers. During this period, the Scottish Borders were undergoing significant social and agricultural changes, and families like the Glendonwyns played an active role in the development of the rural economy. Their transition from the western valleys to the eastern landscapes of Roxburgh reflects the broader movement of families across the borderlands as they sought new opportunities for trade and land management.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Glyn Dyfrdwy
Welsh for valley of the river Dee
This name
GlendonwynDerived from a place name in Wales referring to the valley of the river Dee.
also spelled
Glendinning
Glendoning
Glendonwin
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
Johnston, James B. Place-Names of Scotland. 1934
National Records of Scotland. Roxburghshire Sasines, 1748
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
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