Map of Scotland showing where the Lockerby arms are recorded
The Lockerby 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 Lockerby 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 Lockerby Family in Scotland
The name Lockerby originates from a place name in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland. It is derived from the Old Norse words "Loki," which was a personal name, and "by," which means a farmstead or a settlement. This suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely descended from Norse settlers who established roots in the Scottish Lowlands during the Viking Age. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had moved toward the growing urban center of Edinburgh. Records confirm their presence in the capital by 1748, where they participated in the city's expanding trade and professional life. This migration reflects a broader trend of families moving from rural border regions into the heart of Scotland’s intellectual and commercial hub during the Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lokerbie
Old Norse for a farmstead or dwelling belonging to Loki.
This name
LockerbyA habitational name derived from a town in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
also spelled
Lockerbie
Lockerbey
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
Johnston, James B., Place-Names of Scotland, 1934
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Marriages, 1701–1750
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
