Map of Scotland showing where the Herrin arms are recorded
The Herrin arms were recorded in Sylington, 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 Herrin 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 Herrin Family in Scotland
The surname Herrin is deeply rooted in the history of Scotland, with confirmed records placing the family in Edinburgh as early as 1748. The name is often considered a variation of Herring, which likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person who worked in the fishing industry or perhaps someone who possessed a physical trait reminiscent of the fish. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, and families living there were often involved in the city’s expanding merchant classes. As the family moved through the generations, the spelling of the name shifted to its modern form, reflecting the way local clerks recorded names based on how they sounded in the Scottish dialect. This transition from a trade-based nickname to a formal family name highlights the way common people established their identities within the urban landscape of early modern Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Here
Old English word meaning master or lord.
This name
HerrinA locational or occupational surname denoting a servant or follower of a lord.
also spelled
Herin
Herrin
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 Edinburgh, 1748
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
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
