A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Halcrow family of Scotland.
Reg. 1659 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a mountain”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Halcrow Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Halcrow arms are recorded
The Halcrow 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 Halcrow 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 Halcrow Family in Scotland
The surname Halcrow is widely considered to be of Norse origin, likely derived from the Old Norse words for a hall and a crow. This suggests that the family name may have first emerged among the Norse settlers who inhabited the Orkney and Shetland Islands centuries ago. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had established a presence in the bustling capital of Edinburgh. Records confirm that the family was active in the city by 1748, participating in the urban growth and professional life of the Scottish Enlightenment. Over time, the family transitioned from their northern maritime roots to become part of the social and economic fabric of mainland Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Halkr
Old Norse term for a hawk or a bird of prey.
This name
HalcrowDerived from a Norse nickname for a person with hawk-like characteristics or a hunter.
also spelled
Halcrow
Halcrowe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Clouston, J. Storer, Records of the Earldom of Orkney, 1066–1614, 1914
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, Series CC8/8
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
