Map of Scotland showing where the Heslop arms are recorded
The Heslop arms were recorded in Edinburgh, c. 1678.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Scotland when the Heslop 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 Edinburgh.
Origin & History of the Heslop Family in Scotland
The surname Heslop is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old Norse words "hesli," which means hazel, and "hop," which refers to a small, enclosed valley. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family lived near a valley where hazel trees grew in abundance. While the name is deeply rooted in the border regions between England and Scotland, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in Edinburgh by 1678. During this period, the family likely integrated into the growing urban life of the city, transitioning from their rural origins to participate in the trade and civic activities that defined seventeenth-century Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hest-hlaup
Old Norse for horse leap or a place where horses jump.
This name
HeslopA habitational name referring to a specific valley or location where horses were once kept or leaped.
also spelled
Hislop
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 Testaments, Edinburgh Commissariot, CC8/8
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
