Map of Scotland showing where the Kirkbride arms are recorded
The Kirkbride 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 Kirkbride 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 Kirkbride Family in Scotland
The surname Kirkbride is of locational origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name. The name is derived from the Old Norse word "kirkja" for church and the name of the saint "Brigid," literally translating to "Church of Saint Brigid." While the name is most famously linked to a parish in Cumberland, England, families bearing this name established roots in Scotland as well. By the year 1748, records confirm that members of the Kirkbride family were living in Edinburgh. During this period, Edinburgh was a major center for trade and intellectual growth, and families moving into the city often integrated into the professional and merchant classes. These early residents were part of a broader movement of families who carried their ancestral names from the border regions into the growing urban centers of Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kirk-bryde
Church of Saint Brigid
This name
KirkbrideA habitational name referring to a settlement associated with the Irish saint Brigid.
also spelled
Kirkbride
Kerbride
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Marriages, 1701–1750, OPR 685/1
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
