Map of Scotland showing where the Vans arms are recorded
The Vans arms were recorded in Barnbarroch, 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 Vans 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 Vans Family in Scotland
The family name Vans has deep roots in the historical landscape of Scotland, with records confirming their presence in Edinburgh as early as 1748. During the eighteenth century, Edinburgh was a bustling center of intellectual and social growth known as the Scottish Enlightenment, and families like the Vans were often part of this vibrant urban life. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the surname Vance, which originated from the Old French term for a marsh or a fen. As the family established themselves in the capital city, they likely participated in the professional and mercantile activities that defined the era. By settling in such a prominent location, the early members of the Vans family helped weave their own unique thread into the long and complex history of the Scottish Lowlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de Vaux
Derived from the Old French word for a valley.
This name
VansA locational surname denoting someone who originated from a valley or dale.
also spelled
Vance
Vane
Related arms
Vanevariant spelling
Agnewrecorded with Vans, same area
Nisbetrecorded with Vans, same area
Smithrecorded with Vans, same area
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 of Births and Baptisms, 1748
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
