A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Shives family of Scotland.
Reg. 9449 · Scottish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Sa. three cats-a-mountain pass. in pale spotted ar.; 2nd, ar”
ScotlandMureton, c. 1672
Where the Shives Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Shives arms are recorded
The Shives arms were recorded in Mureton, c. 1672.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Scotland when the Shives 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 Shives Family in Scotland
The family name Shives has deep roots in the history of Scotland, with early records confirming the presence of family members in Edinburgh by 1672. The name is believed to be a variation of the older Scottish surname Scheves, which originated from a place name in the county of Fife. During the seventeenth century, individuals carrying this name were often associated with the professional and merchant classes of the capital city. As Edinburgh grew into a major center for trade and law, the Shives family became part of the urban landscape, contributing to the development of the city during a time of significant social and political change. While the name remained relatively rare, its presence in official documents from the late 1600s highlights the family's long-standing connection to the Scottish Lowlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sceaf
Old English word meaning a sheaf of corn or grain.
This name
ShivesA topographic name for someone who lived near a field of harvested grain or a grain storehouse.
also spelled
Shives
Schyves
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, Register of Testaments, Edinburgh Commissary Court, CC8/8
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
