A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gourlay family of Scotland.
Reg. 9340 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. an eagle displ. ar. armed and beaked gu. Old Arms—Ar. three martlets gu”
FifeKincraig · Fife, c. 1748
Where the Gourlay Arms Were Recorded
Fife
Map of Scotland showing where the Gourlay arms are recorded
The Gourlay arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1748.
Fife was farming country between two firths, with royal palaces and old burghs along its coast. Its landed families were numerous and close to the court, and closeness to the court brought arms.
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 Gourlay 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 Fife.
Origin & History of the Gourlay Family in Scotland
The Gourlay family name has deep roots in Scotland, particularly within the region of Fife. Historians believe the name is locational in origin, likely derived from the Old French words for a muddy stream or a gully. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of Fife, where they participated in the local agricultural and social life of the community. During this era, families often lived in the same parishes for generations, which helped the name become a permanent fixture in the local landscape. While the name eventually spread across the country, its early history remains closely tied to the coastal and rural traditions of the Scottish Lowlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gournay
A place name derived from the Old French word for a garden.
This name
GourlayA locational surname originating from the town of Gournay-en-Bray in Normandy, France.
also spelled
Gourley
Gurley
Gorlay
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, Kirk Session Records of Fife, 1748
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
