A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grear family of Scotland.
Reg. 6818 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Gu. a pale erm. charged with a bend az”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Grear Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Grear arms are recorded
The Grear arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
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 II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Grear 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 Grear Family in Scotland
The family name Grear is a variant of the name Greer, which traces its linguistic roots back to the Scottish Highlands. It is derived from the Gaelic word "gregor," meaning alert or watchful. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh. Records confirm their residence in the city by 1748, a time when Edinburgh was undergoing a massive intellectual and architectural transformation known as the Scottish Enlightenment. During this period, families with this name were often integrated into the growing professional and merchant classes of the capital. Living in such a vibrant urban center suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the trade, legal, or academic circles that defined the city during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Greger
A variant of the Greek name Gregorios meaning watchful or alert.
This name
GrearA Scottish surname derived from the personal name Gregory, signifying a vigilant or watchful person.
also spelled
Grier
Grear
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, Edinburgh Register of Sasines, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
