A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hately family of Scotland.
Reg. 6265 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, on a bend az. cotised gu. three boars' heads erased of the field”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Hately Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Hately arms are recorded
The Hately 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 Hately 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 Hately Family in Scotland
The Hately surname is deeply rooted in the history of the Scottish Lowlands, with records confirming the family’s presence in Edinburgh as early as 1748. The name is considered a topographical surname, which means it likely originated from a specific place or a descriptive feature of the landscape where early ancestors lived. In the mid-eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a rapidly changing city, and families like the Hatelys were often involved in the skilled trades or professional sectors that supported the growing urban economy. By tracing these early residents, historians can see how the family integrated into the social fabric of Scotland’s capital during a time of significant industrial and cultural development. While the name remains relatively rare, its persistence in local parish registers and legal documents from the 1700s provides a clear link to the hardworking communities that built the foundation of modern Edinburgh.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hatt
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for hood or hat.
This name
HatelyA topographical or occupational name referring to a dweller by a meadow or pasture.
also spelled
Hatley
Hately
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, series OPR 685/1
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
