Map of Scotland showing where the Schank arms are recorded
The Schank arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1732.
Fife was farming country between two firths, with royal palaces and old burghs along its coast. Its landed families were numerous and close to the court, and closeness to the court brought 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 Schank 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 Fife.
Origin & History of the Schank Family in Scotland
The surname Schank has deep roots in the coastal region of Fife, Scotland, where documented family members were firmly established by 1732. The name is believed to be a variation of the Middle English word shank, which originally referred to the leg. In medieval times, this was often a descriptive nickname given to someone with long legs or a distinctive way of walking. Over the centuries, families living in the Scottish Lowlands adopted these descriptive names as permanent surnames. By the eighteenth century, the Schank family in Fife was integrated into the local community, likely working in trades or agriculture common to the area. Their presence in regional records from this period highlights a long-standing history of residency in the Scottish countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schenke
A German term for a cupbearer or tavern keeper.
This name
SchankAn occupational surname for someone who served drinks or managed a public house.
also spelled
Schank
Related arms
Shankvariant spelling
Shankevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Fife Parish Registers, 1732
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
cinquefoilHope and joy
legStrength and swiftness
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
cinquefoilHope and joy
legStrength and swiftness
