Map of Scotland showing where the Mcmichael arms are recorded
The Mcmichael arms were recorded in Scotland, 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 Mcmichael 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 Mcmichael Family in Scotland
The surname McMichael is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Michael. The name has deep roots in the Gaelic language, where it was often written as Mac Mhìcheil. By the time members of the family were documented in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had already been established in Scotland for several generations. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a hub of rapid growth and intellectual change known as the Scottish Enlightenment. Families like the McMichaels living in the city at this time were likely part of the expanding professional or merchant classes who helped shape the urban life of the capital. Because the name was common in both the Lowlands and the Highlands, those living in Edinburgh may have moved there from rural areas to seek new opportunities in trade, law, or craftsmanship as the city modernized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Maol Mhìcheil
Son of the devotee of Saint Michael.
This name
McmichaelDerived from Gaelic, signifying a descendant of one dedicated to the archangel Michael.
also spelled
McMichael
MacMychell
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, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
