Map of Scotland showing where the Mccloskey arms are recorded
The Mccloskey arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1678.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Scotland when the Mccloskey 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 Mccloskey Family in Scotland
The surname McCloskey originates from the Gaelic name Mac Bhloscaidh, which translates to the son of Bloscadh. This name is rooted in the ancient traditions of County Derry in Ireland, where the family belonged to the Cenél nEógain branch of the Northern Uí Néill. By the late seventeenth century, members of the family had moved across the sea to Scotland. Official records confirm that individuals bearing this name were settled in Edinburgh by 1678. This migration was likely part of a broader movement of people traveling between Ireland and Scotland for trade, work, or religious reasons during a period of significant political change. As these early family members established themselves in the city, they became part of the growing urban population of Scotland’s capital.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Giolla Chloise
Son of the devotee of the servant of the church.
This name
MccloskeyDerived from a Gaelic patronymic meaning son of the follower of Saint Cloe.
also spelled
McCloskey
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, Register of Testaments, CC8/8/75
Ó Murchadha, Diarmuid, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
