Map of Scotland showing where the Moakley arms are recorded
The Moakley arms were recorded in Leckonfield, 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 Moakley 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 Moakley Family in Scotland
The Moakley family name has deep roots tied to the city of Edinburgh, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1748. During the mid-eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a vibrant center of the Scottish Enlightenment, a time when the city was rapidly expanding and becoming a hub for trade and intellectual growth. Families living in the city at this time often worked as skilled tradespeople or merchants, contributing to the bustling urban economy of the Old Town. While the name is often associated with later migration patterns, its presence in mid-eighteenth-century Scotland suggests that the family was part of the local social fabric during a period of significant cultural change. By living in Edinburgh during this era, the Moakley family witnessed the city transform into a modern capital while maintaining the traditions of their Scottish heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Amhlaoibh
Son of the ancestor Olaf, derived from Old Norse meaning ancestral relic.
This name
MoakleyA Scottish and Irish patronymic surname signifying descent from a progenitor named Olaf.
also spelled
Mackly
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, 1748
Daiches, David, Edinburgh, 1978
Harris, Stuart, The Place Names of Edinburgh: Their Origins and History, 1996
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wolfReward from long service and hard work
wolfReward from long service and hard work
