Map of Scotland showing where the Harmison arms are recorded
The Harmison arms were recorded in Hormiston, 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 Harmison 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 Harmison Family in Scotland
The family name Harmison is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Harmon or Herman. While the name has roots in various parts of Northern Europe, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a major center for the Scottish Enlightenment, and families living in the city were often involved in the growing trade, legal, and academic sectors of the capital. As the name moved through different regions, its spelling likely shifted to reflect local dialects and the way it sounded to record keepers. By settling in a prominent urban hub like Edinburgh, the early Harmisons became part of a vibrant society that was rapidly modernizing during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Harman
Derived from the Germanic elements for army and man.
This name
HarmisonA patronymic surname meaning son of Harman or son of the soldier.
also spelled
Hormistoun
Hormistun
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, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1748
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pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
