Map of Scotland showing where the Trail arms are recorded
The Trail arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1748.
Fife was farming country between two firths, with royal palaces and old burghs along its coast. Its landed families were numerous and close to the court, and closeness to the court brought arms.
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 Trail 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 Fife.
Origin & History of the Trail Family in Scotland
The family name Trail has deep roots in the coastal landscape of eastern Scotland, particularly within the county of Fife. While the name appears in various records throughout the eighteenth century, including documented family members living in the region by 1748, its origins are tied to the Old Northern English and Scots word "traill." This term originally described a path or a track, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have been people who lived near a well-known trail or worked as guides through the rugged Scottish terrain. Over time, the family established itself within the local community, often appearing in parish registers and land documents that track their movement through the towns and villages of the Fife peninsula. By the mid-1700s, the Trails were well-integrated into the social and economic life of the area, contributing to the agricultural and maritime history that defined the region during that period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. a chev. betw. two mascles in chief or, and a trefoil slipped in base ar”
AntrimBallylough House · Antrim, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Ireland showing where the Trail arms are recorded
The Trail arms were recorded in Antrim, c. 1765.
Antrim was north-eastern Irish country settled from Scotland in the seventeenth century. The new landowners took formal grants and had them recorded, so their arms are unusually well documented.
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 Ireland in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Trail arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Antrim.
Origin & History of the Trail Family in Ireland
The history of the Trail family in Ireland is deeply connected to the northern province of Ulster, where records confirm their presence in County Antrim by 1765. The name itself is thought to have originated from a descriptive term, likely referring to a person who lived near a path or a trail. Many families with this name arrived in Ireland during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as part of the movement of settlers from Scotland. These families often settled in the coastal regions of the north, where they integrated into the local agricultural and merchant communities. By the mid-1700s, the Trails were well-established in Antrim, participating in the daily life and economic growth of the region. Their presence reflects the broader patterns of migration and social change that defined the history of Ulster during this period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
trailler
Old French term for someone who drags or pulls objects.
This name
TrailAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a hauler or a pathfinder.
also spelled
Trayle
Trayll
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 of Births and Baptisms, 1748
National Records of Scotland, Testaments and Inventories of the Commissariot of St Andrews, 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
