Map of Scotland showing where the Small arms are recorded
The Small 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 Small 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 Small Family in Scotland
The surname Small is a classic example of a descriptive nickname that eventually became a hereditary family name. In medieval Scotland and England, people were often identified by their physical traits, and the name was likely given to someone of short stature or a slender build. By the time the family was firmly established in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had long moved past its original descriptive roots to become a permanent identifier passed down through generations. Families with this name were often integrated into the local urban life of Scotland’s capital, working in various trades and professions that supported the city’s growth during the eighteenth century. Because the name is based on such a common human characteristic, it appeared independently in many different regions, meaning that not everyone who carries the name Small shares a single common ancestor.
Small Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
smal
Old English word meaning little or narrow.
This name
SmallA descriptive nickname originally used to identify a person of small stature or slight build.
also spelled
Smale
Smaile
Related arms
Smale, or Smalleyvariant spelling
Davidsonrecorded with Small, same area
Marshallrecorded with Small, same area
Skenerecorded with Small, same area
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. 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
