Map of Scotland showing where the Headrick arms are recorded
The Headrick arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1672.
Fife was farming country between two firths, with royal palaces and old burghs along its coast. Its landed families were numerous and close to the court, and closeness to the court brought 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 Scotland in this period.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Scotland when the Headrick 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 Fife.
Origin & History of the Headrick Family in Scotland
The family name Headrick has deep roots in the coastal region of Fife, Scotland, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1672. The name is believed to be a variation of the older surname Hedderwick, which originated from a place name in East Lothian. In Old English, this name was derived from words meaning a heather-covered farm or a dwelling situated near a patch of heather. As families moved across the Scottish Lowlands during the seventeenth century, the spelling gradually shifted to the form used today. These early ancestors were likely tenant farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of the Fife parishes. By settling in this area, they became part of the long history of Scottish families who maintained strong ties to their local communities for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hedderwick
A settlement located near a patch of heather.
This name
HeadrickDerived from a Scottish place name referring to a dwelling situated by heather-covered land.
also spelled
Hedderwike
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, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 1672
Johnston, James B., Place-Names of Scotland, 1934
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
