Map of England showing where the Halliday arms are recorded
The Halliday arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Halliday arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Somerset.
Origin & History of the Halliday Family in England
The surname Halliday is a descriptive name that originated in medieval England as a nickname for someone who was known for their cheerful personality or perhaps for a person who was born on a holy day. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Somerset. Records from this period show that members of the family were active participants in local community life, often appearing in parish registers and legal documents as landowners or tradespeople. During this era, the name was frequently spelled in various ways, such as Halliday, Holliday, or Hallyday, reflecting the phonetic nature of record-keeping before standardized spelling became common. The family’s deep roots in the West Country suggest they were part of the stable middle class that helped shape the social and economic landscape of rural England long before the mass migrations of the colonial era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a sword erected in pale ppr. hilted and pommelled or, the pommel within a crescent, in base gu. a canton az. charged with a saltire of the first”
KinrossTullibole · Kinross, c. 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Scotland showing where the Halliday arms are recorded
The Halliday arms were recorded in Kinross, c. 1748.
Kinross was the second smallest Scottish county, farming country around a loch. Its few landed families held their ground for centuries, and long holding is what fills a register.
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 England when the Halliday 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 Kinross.
Origin & History of the Halliday Family in Scotland
The name Halliday is deeply rooted in the history of the Scottish Borders, where it likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who was born on a holy day or perhaps a person who participated in religious festivals. While the name is closely tied to the southern regions of Scotland, families carrying this surname eventually spread into various counties, including Kinross. By 1748, records confirm that members of the Halliday family were well-established in Kinross, living as part of a society transitioning through the agricultural and social changes of the eighteenth century. These early ancestors were often involved in local trade or farming, contributing to the development of the community during a time when Scotland was becoming increasingly integrated into a broader national economy. Their presence in Kinross reflects the wider movement of families across the Scottish landscape as they sought new opportunities for work and land ownership during the mid-1700s.
Halliday Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
halig daeg
Old English words for holy and day.
This name
HallidayA name historically given to a child born on a holy day or a religious festival.
also spelled
Halyday
Related arms
Moncreiff-Wellwoodrecorded with Halliday, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Somerset Archives, Parish Registers of Somerset, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
helmetWisdom and security in defence
bordureA difference between branches of one family
helmetWisdom and security in defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
