A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mcdonald family of Britain.
Reg. 7605 · Britain, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. au lion de gu.; au 2 d'or à un senestrochère, arm. de gu., tenant une croix recr. au pied fiché du même; au 3 d'arg. à une galère de sa., pavillonnée et girouettée de gu., sur une mer de sin., dans laquelle nage un saumon d'arg.; au 4 d'arg. à un arbre arr. de sin., surm. d'une aigle ép. de sa., à la champagne d'or, ch. d'un scorpion de sa. en bande. Au croiss. de gu., br. sur les écartelures en abîme. Au chef de l'écu de gu. semé d'étoiles d'arg.”
Britainc. 1809
Where the Mcdonald Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Mcdonald arms are recorded
The Mcdonald arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1809.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of arms.
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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Britain when the Mcdonald arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Britain.
Origin & History of the Mcdonald Family in Britain
The surname McDonald is a classic example of a patronymic name, which means it was originally derived from the first name of a father or ancestor. The name translates from Gaelic as "son of Donald," with the prefix "Mc" or "Mac" serving as a marker for lineage. While the name is most famously associated with the powerful clans of the Scottish Highlands, families bearing this name eventually spread across the British Isles due to migration and economic shifts. By the early nineteenth century, records confirm that members of the McDonald family were established in the county of Kent. These individuals were likely part of the broader movement of people who relocated from Scotland or northern England to the south of England during the Industrial Revolution to seek new opportunities in trade and agriculture. Their presence in Kent by 1809 reflects the steady integration of northern families into the diverse social fabric of southern England during this period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Domhnaill
Son of the world ruler.
This name
McdonaldA Scottish and Irish patronymic surname signifying descent from a leader or ruler.
also spelled
Macdonnald
Macdonold
Makdonald
Mcdonald
McDonald
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
National Archives (UK). Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. HO 107
Reaney, Percy Hide. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
