A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mcpherson family of Scotland.
Reg. 0038 · Scottish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per fesse or and az. a lymphad of the first, with her sails furled, oars in action, and mast and tackling all ppr. flags flying gu. in the dexter chief point a hand couped grasping a dagger, point upwards gu. in the sinister chief a cross crosslet fitchée of the last”
InvernessCluny · Inverness, c. 1748
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Map of Scotland showing where the Mcpherson arms are recorded
The Mcpherson arms were recorded in Inverness, c. 1748.
Inverness was the largest Highland county, clan country of glens and long sea lochs. Chiefs recorded arms to mark the head of a family, and cadet branches recorded their own to show their place.
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 Mcpherson 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 Inverness.
Origin & History of the Mcpherson Family in Scotland
The name McPherson is a proud Scottish surname that translates from Gaelic as "son of the parson." This indicates that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely descendants of a member of the clergy who lived during a time when priests were permitted to marry. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the city of Inverness. This region served as a vital hub for Highland culture and trade during that era. While the family was deeply rooted in the local community of Inverness by 1748, their broader history is tied to the Clan Chattan confederation. This was a powerful group of related clans that worked together to protect their lands and interests across the Scottish Highlands. Through their association with this group, the McPhersons played a significant role in the complex social and political landscape of northern Scotland for many generations.
Mcpherson Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac a' Phearsain
Gaelic for son of the parson.
This name
McphersonRefers to the male descendant of a member of the clergy.
also spelled
McPherson
MacFerson
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
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
handFaith, sincerity and justice
