Map of Scotland showing where the Laidlaw arms are recorded
The Laidlaw 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 Laidlaw 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 Laidlaw Family in Scotland
The surname Laidlaw is deeply rooted in the Scottish Borders, a region known for its rugged landscape and long history of clan activity. Etymologists believe the name is locational in origin, likely derived from a now-lost place name that combined Old English words for a slope or hillside and a mound or burial site. By the mid-18th century, members of the family had established a clear presence in Edinburgh, which served as a hub for those moving from the rural borderlands into the growing urban center. These early city dwellers were often involved in trade and professional life, reflecting the family's transition from traditional pastoral roots to the developing economy of the Scottish Enlightenment. This migration pattern suggests that the Laidlaws were adaptable people who played a quiet but steady role in the social and economic fabric of Scotland as it modernized during the 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hlaford-hlaw
Old English for lord or master combined with a burial mound.
This name
LaidlawRefers to a person who lived near a hill or mound belonging to a lord.
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. Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms, Edinburgh. 1748
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
