A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harney family of Scotland.
Reg. 4093 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a fesse or, betw. three mullets in chief ar. and a mascle in base of the second”
ScotlandAlrick, c. 1748
Where the Harney Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Harney arms are recorded
The Harney arms were recorded in Alrick, 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 Harney 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 Harney Family in Scotland
The surname Harney has roots that stretch back through centuries of history, with early records confirming the presence of the family in Edinburgh by 1748. While the name is often associated with Irish origins, where it likely evolved from the Gaelic name Ó hAthairne, its appearance in Scotland suggests that family members were mobile and integrated into the urban life of the eighteenth century. During this period, Edinburgh was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, and families like the Harneys were often involved in the skilled labor or mercantile activities that defined the city. By settling in such a prominent capital, these early ancestors helped establish a legacy that persisted through generations of social and economic change. The name serves as a marker of a family that navigated the shifting landscapes of the British Isles, leaving behind traces in official registers that allow us to connect the present day to their lives in the mid-1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
O hAthairne
Derived from the Gaelic word for father or ancestor.
This name
HarneyA patronymic surname signifying descendant of the fatherly or ancestral figure.
also spelled
Harny
Harney
Harnay
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
