Map of Scotland showing where the Mclagan arms are recorded
The Mclagan 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 Mclagan 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 Mclagan Family in Scotland
The surname McLagan is a Scottish patronymic name that originates from the Gaelic language. It is derived from the phrase *Mac Gille Fhaolain*, which translates to "son of the servant of Saint Fillan." Saint Fillan was a prominent early Christian monk who was highly revered in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Perthshire and Fife. While the family name has deep roots in the Highlands and central Scotland, records confirm that members of the McLagan family were well-established in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a major center for the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the McLagans were often involved in the city's growing professional, academic, and merchant classes. As the family moved into urban centers, they contributed to the social and economic development of Scotland’s capital, marking a transition from their traditional Highland origins to the modern, bustling life of the eighteenth-century city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Gille Eathain
Son of the servant of Saint John
This name
MclaganA Scottish patronymic surname derived from Gaelic indicating descent from a follower of Saint John.
also spelled
McLagan
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, CC8/8/112
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bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
