A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mcalister family of Scotland.
Reg. 1274 · Scottish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Or, an eagle displ. gu. armed sa. surmounted on the breast of a galley of the first within a bordure of the third, charged with six cross crosslets fitchée ar”
ScotlandLoup, c. 1748
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Map of Scotland showing where the Mcalister arms are recorded
The Mcalister arms were recorded in Loup, 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 Mcalister 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 Mcalister Family in Scotland
The surname McAlister is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of a man named Alister. This name is the Gaelic version of Alexander, a title that became popular across Scotland due to the influence of several medieval kings. By the time members of the family were documented in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had already been established for centuries throughout the Scottish Highlands and the Western Isles. Families bearing this name were often associated with powerful clans, and they frequently served as skilled warriors or leaders within their local territories. As people began to move from rural areas into growing urban centers like Edinburgh during the eighteenth century, the family name became more widely recorded in city registers and legal documents. These early records show that the McAlisters were part of a larger movement of families seeking new opportunities in trade and professional life as Scotland entered a period of rapid social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Alasdair
Gaelic patronymic meaning son of Alexander.
This name
McalisterDerived from the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, signifying a defender of men.
also spelled
McAlister
Macalaster
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, Edinburgh Register of Marriages, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
