Map of Scotland showing where the Hog arms are recorded
The Hog arms were recorded in Bleridryn, c. 1693.
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.
Mary II of England
Sovereign of the period
Mary II of England
1689–1694
Reigning in Scotland when the Hog 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 Hog Family in Scotland
The surname Hog is a classic example of a name derived from a descriptive nickname or a specific occupation in medieval Scotland. Historically, the name was often associated with individuals who worked as swineherds, or it may have been a playful reference to a person’s physical traits or personality. By the late 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, where records from 1693 confirm their integration into the city’s social and professional life. During this era, members of the Hog family were frequently involved in the legal and mercantile circles that defined the capital’s growth. Their transition from rural roots to urban prominence reflects the broader movement of Scottish families seeking new opportunities in the expanding administrative centers of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hogg
An Old English term for a young sheep or pig.
This name
HogAn occupational name for a swineherd or a nickname for someone resembling a pig.
also spelled
Hogge
Related arms
Campbellrecorded with Hog, same area
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, 1693
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boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
