A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grier family of Scotland.
Reg. 9433 · 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 Grier Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Grier arms are recorded
The Grier 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 Grier 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 Grier Family in Scotland
The surname Grier is a variant of the name MacGregor, which originates from the Gaelic term meaning son of Gregory. Historically, members of the clan were associated with the rugged regions of the Scottish Highlands, but political pressures and shifting loyalties often forced families to relocate to urban centers like Edinburgh. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the Grier family had established a documented presence in the capital city. Records from 1748 show that these individuals were integrated into the professional and social life of Edinburgh during a time of significant cultural change in Scotland. As the family settled into city life, they moved away from the traditional clan structures of the past to become part of the growing middle class in a modernizing nation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gregor
Derived from the Greek word meaning watchful or alert.
This name
GrierA Scottish surname originating as a diminutive form of the name Gregory.
also spelled
Grier
Grear
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
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 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
