Map of Scotland showing where the Meek arms are recorded
The Meek 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 Meek 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 Meek Family in Scotland
The surname Meek is rooted in the Middle English word "meke," which originally described a person with a gentle, humble, or patient temperament. During the Middle Ages, names were often derived from these personal characteristics and served as descriptive nicknames before becoming hereditary family names passed down through generations. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, Scotland, as evidenced by records from 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was a bustling center of the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Meeks were often involved in the city's growing trade, craft guilds, or professional sectors. While the name began as a simple observation of character, it eventually became a permanent identifier for families living through the rapid social and economic changes of 18th-century urban Scotland.
Meek Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Old Norse mjúkr
A word meaning soft, supple, or gentle in temperament.
This name
MeekRefers to a person with a mild, humble, or gentle disposition.
also spelled
Meak
Meake
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, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, 1748
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
