Map of Scotland showing where the Scobie arms are recorded
The Scobie 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 Scobie 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 Scobie Family in Scotland
The surname Scobie is primarily associated with the northern regions of Scotland, particularly the county of Sutherland. Historians believe the name is topographical, likely derived from the Old Norse word "skogr," which refers to a wood or a forest. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing the name lived near a wooded area. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, as evidenced by records from 1748. During this period, members of the Scobie family were active participants in the urban life of Scotland's capital, working as merchants and professionals. Their migration from the rural Highlands to the bustling center of Edinburgh reflects the broader social shifts occurring in Scotland as the country moved toward the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Skolbi
Old Norse term meaning a person from the village of Skoli.
This name
ScobieA habitational surname derived from a Norse settlement in Scotland.
also spelled
Scoby
Scobey
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, CC8/8/111
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
