Map of Scotland showing where the Soutar arms are recorded
The Soutar 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 Soutar 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 Soutar Family in Scotland
The surname Soutar is an occupational name that originated in Scotland, derived from the Middle English word "souter," which means a shoemaker or cobbler. During the medieval period, surnames were often adopted based on a person’s trade to help identify them within a growing community. By the time the family was established in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had become a common identifier for families involved in the leather and footwear trades. As Edinburgh grew into a major center for commerce and industry, families bearing this name contributed to the city’s development as skilled artisans and tradespeople. The history of the name reflects the transition from simple descriptive titles to permanent family surnames that were passed down through generations of Scottish workers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sutor
A Latin term referring to a person who stitches or sews.
This name
SoutarAn occupational surname for a shoemaker or cobbler in medieval Scotland.
also spelled
Sowter
Soutar
Sowtar
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, Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms, 1748
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