Map of Scotland showing where the Pettigrew arms are recorded
The Pettigrew 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 Pettigrew 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 Pettigrew Family in Scotland
The surname Pettigrew is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person with small or slender feet. The name is derived from the Old French words "petit," meaning small, and "cru," meaning leg or foot. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was firmly established in the bustling city of Edinburgh. Records from 1748 show that members of the Pettigrew family were active participants in the social and economic life of the Scottish capital during a time of significant urban growth. As the family settled into city life, they contributed to the local trades and professional communities that defined Edinburgh during the Enlightenment era. This transition from a descriptive nickname to a recognized family name reflects the broader patterns of how surnames evolved across Scotland as populations became more settled and documented.
Pettigrew Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Petit cru
Old French for small growth or small field.
This name
PettigrewRefers to a person who lived near a small field or a small plot of land.
also spelled
Pettegrew
Related arms
Pedigrewvariant spelling
Pettegrewvariant spelling
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, Edinburgh Register of Sasines, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
