Map of Scotland showing where the Lough arms are recorded
The Lough arms were recorded in Edinburgh, c. 1748.
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 Lough 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 Edinburgh.
Origin & History of the Lough Family in Scotland
The surname Lough is deeply rooted in the history of the Scottish Lowlands, where it likely originated as a topographic name for families living near a lake or a body of water. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in Edinburgh, as evidenced by records from 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a bustling center of trade and intellectual growth, and members of the Lough family were integrated into the urban life of the city. While the name is often associated with the northern regions of Britain, its early concentration in the capital suggests that these ancestors were likely involved in the professional or merchant classes that defined the city’s expansion during the Enlightenment. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the local community, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that shaped Scotland’s historical landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
loch
A Gaelic term referring to a lake or an inlet of sea.
This name
LoughA topographic name for someone who lived near a lake or a body of water.
also spelled
Loche
Lock
Lochh
Logh
Lough
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Marriages, 1748
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
