Map of Scotland showing where the Hoctor arms are recorded
The Hoctor 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 Hoctor 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 Hoctor Family in Scotland
The family name Hoctor has roots that trace back to the British Isles, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Edinburgh by 1748. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a hub of rapid intellectual and social change known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Families living in the city at this time often worked in skilled trades or the growing merchant class that supported the expanding urban population. While the name is relatively rare, its presence in Scottish records suggests that early Hoctors were part of the migration patterns and economic shifts defining life in major cities during the mid-1700s. These early ancestors lived through a time when the city was transforming from a medieval capital into a center of modern commerce and education. By settling in such a prominent location, the family became part of the historical fabric of Scotland during a period of significant national development.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hektor
Derived from the Greek word meaning to hold or possess.
This name
HoctorA Scottish locational or occupational surname likely denoting a steadfast protector or guardian.
also spelled
Hectour
Hecter
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, Births and Baptisms (1748)
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Burgh Register of Apprentices (1748)
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
