A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haig family of Scotland.
Reg. 0753 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a saltire betw. in chief a crescent reversed, in dexter fess a decrescent, in sinister fess an [?]”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Haig Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Haig arms are recorded
The Haig 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 Haig 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 Haig Family in Scotland
The Haig surname is deeply rooted in the history of the Scottish Lowlands, with its origins tracing back to the early medieval period. The name is thought to be locational, likely derived from the Old Norse word "hagi," which refers to a pasture or an enclosed field. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the Haig family were well-established in Edinburgh, where they became prominent figures in the city’s growing commercial life. Records from 1748 confirm their presence in the capital, where they were notably involved in the production of spirits, a trade that would eventually see the family name become synonymous with the development of the Scotch whisky industry. This transition from landholders to influential urban entrepreneurs reflects the broader social shifts occurring in Scotland during the Enlightenment, as families moved from rural estates to participate in the rapid economic expansion of Edinburgh.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haga
Old Norse word for an enclosure, hedge, or fenced area.
This name
HaigRefers to a person who lived near a hedged enclosure or a piece of enclosed land.
also spelled
Hague
Hage
Related arms
Haguevariant spelling
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 Testaments, 1701–1800, CC8/8/114
Paton, Henry, The Register of Marriages for the Parish of Edinburgh, 1701–1750, 1908
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
