Map of Scotland showing where the Shields arms are recorded
The Shields 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 Shields 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 Shields Family in Scotland
The surname Shields is primarily of Scottish and Northern English origin, often serving as a topographic name for people who lived near a "shieling." A shieling was a small, temporary hut used by shepherds or farmers while they tended their livestock in the high pastures during the summer months. By the time the family was firmly established in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had evolved from a simple description of a dwelling into a settled hereditary surname. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a rapidly growing center of trade and intellectual life, and families like the Shields were often part of the rising urban middle class. These individuals likely moved from the rural countryside into the city to pursue work as tradesmen, merchants, or skilled laborers during the period of the Scottish Enlightenment.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scield
Old English term referring to a protective covering or shield.
This name
ShieldsAn occupational name for a maker of shields or a nickname for a protected person.
also spelled
Shieldes
Shielde
Shyeld
Related arms
Sheildsvariant 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. Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms, Edinburgh. 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
