A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gourley family of Scotland.
Reg. 6355 · 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 Gourley Arms Were Recorded
Fife
Map of Scotland showing where the Gourley arms are recorded
The Gourley 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 Gourley 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 Gourley Family in Scotland
The surname Gourley is deeply rooted in the history of Scotland, with strong connections to the coastal region of Fife. The name is thought to be topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old French term "gour," which refers to a small stream or a pool of water. This suggests that the earliest families to carry the name lived near a specific waterway or a marshy area. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that the Gourley family was well-established in Fife, where they lived as part of the local community during a time of significant social and agricultural change. These early ancestors were likely involved in the traditional trades of the region, such as farming or fishing, which were essential to life along the Scottish coast. Over generations, the family name became a permanent fixture in the local records, marking their long-standing presence in the landscape of eastern Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gournay
Derived from the Old French place name meaning garden or enclosure.
This name
GourleyA topographic surname for someone who lived near a garden or a settlement in Normandy.
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
