Map of Scotland showing where the Rule arms are recorded
The Rule 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 Rule 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 Rule Family in Scotland
The surname Rule is primarily associated with the Scottish Borders and the city of Edinburgh. The name is often considered a locational surname, likely derived from the Rule Water, a small river that flows through the historic county of Roxburghshire. Families living near this waterway were often identified by the name of the river, which eventually became a hereditary surname as families moved into larger urban centers. By the mid-eighteenth century, the name was well-established in Edinburgh, where members of the family were active in the city's growing professional and merchant classes. These early residents contributed to the social and economic fabric of the capital during a period of significant intellectual and architectural expansion. The presence of the Rule family in Edinburgh by 1748 reflects a broader trend of migration from the rural borders to the thriving administrative and cultural hub of Scotland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Roul
A Germanic personal name meaning famous wolf.
This name
RuleDerived from a locational name referring to the Rule Water river in the Scottish Borders.
also spelled
Rull
Rewell
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 Testaments, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
bordureA difference between branches of one family
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
