Map of Scotland showing where the Nortman arms are recorded
The Nortman 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 Nortman 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 Nortman Family in Scotland
The surname Nortman is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Europe, where it originally functioned as a descriptive term for someone from the north. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a documented presence in Edinburgh, Scotland. Records confirm that members of the family were living in the city by 1748, a time when Edinburgh was undergoing significant social and architectural expansion during the Scottish Enlightenment. As the city grew, families like the Nortmans participated in the urban development of the capital, likely contributing to the local trade and professional networks that defined the era. While the name reflects a migratory history linked to northern origins, its appearance in Scottish records highlights the family's integration into the vibrant cultural landscape of eighteenth-century Edinburgh.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nord-man
A person originating from the northern regions or Scandinavia.
This name
NortmanAn occupational or locational identifier for an individual from the north.
also spelled
Notmon
Notmaun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh City Register of Marriages and Baptisms, 1748
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
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
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
