Map of Scotland showing where the Moir arms are recorded
The Moir arms were recorded in Aberdeen, c. 1748.
Aberdeen was a granite trading town on the north-east coast with farming country behind it. Merchants who prospered bought estates inland, and buying an estate was what brought a family its arms.
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 Moir 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 Aberdeen.
Origin & History of the Moir Family in Scotland
The surname Moir is deeply rooted in the history of Northeast Scotland, particularly within the region surrounding Aberdeen. The name is believed to be a variation of the Gaelic word "mòr," which translates to "big" or "great," and was likely used as a descriptive nickname for a person of significant physical stature or high social standing. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Moir family had established a firm presence in Aberdeen, where they became active participants in the city's growing commercial and professional life. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the family were already well-integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of the area during a time of great social and economic transition in Scotland. Over the generations, the family name became synonymous with the local identity of the Aberdeenshire landscape, reflecting the rugged and resilient character of those who lived in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maire
A Gaelic term meaning Mary or derived from the word for sea.
This name
MoirA Scottish topographic surname for someone who lived near a large body of water.
also spelled
Moyr
Moyre
More
Related arms
Morevariant spelling
Moyrevariant spelling
Donaldsonrecorded with Moir, same area
Gordonrecorded with Moir, same area
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, Aberdeen Burgh Register of Sasines, 1748
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