A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the M'Ara family of Scotland.
Reg. 0523 · Scottish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
swordJustice, and military honour
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. a tree eradicated in bend ppr. surmounted of a sword in bend sinister also ppr. hilted and pommelled or, ensigned on the point with an imperial crown also ppr”
Scotlandc. 1814
Where the M'Ara Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the M'Ara arms are recorded
The M'Ara arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1814.
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 III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Scotland when the M'Ara 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 M'Ara Family in Scotland
The family name M'Ara is a distinct variation of the Scottish surname O'Mara, which traces its roots back to ancient Gaelic clans in Ireland before spreading across the Irish Sea to Scotland. By the early nineteenth century, the name had become firmly established within the bustling urban environment of Edinburgh. Records from 1814 confirm that members of the family were living in the city during a time of significant industrial and cultural growth. During this period, Edinburgh was a center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the M'Aras often integrated into the local workforce as skilled laborers or merchants. The transition from the Irish spelling to the Scottish M'Ara style reflects the way names often evolved as families moved between different regions and adapted to the local dialects of their new homes. This migration pattern highlights the long history of movement between Ireland and Scotland that shaped many families living in the capital city during the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Gille Mhoire
Son of the servant of the Virgin Mary.
This name
M'AraA Scottish Gaelic patronymic surname indicating descent from a devotee of the Virgin Mary.
also spelled
Marah
Marrah
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, Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1814
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
swordJustice, and military honour
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
swordJustice, and military honour
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
