A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Walkinshaw family of Scotland.
Reg. 6468 · Scottish, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
Colours
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)
“Ar. on a mount a grove of firs ppr”
RenfrewRenfrew, c. 1748
Where the Walkinshaw Arms Were Recorded
Renfrew
Map of Scotland showing where the Walkinshaw arms are recorded
The Walkinshaw arms were recorded in Renfrew, c. 1748.
Renfrewshire lay along the lower Clyde, farming country that later filled with trade. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is what brought them into the register.
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 Walkinshaw 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 Renfrew.
Origin & History of the Walkinshaw Family in Scotland
The surname Walkinshaw originates from the ancient lands of Walkinshaw, located in the parish of Paisley within the historic county of Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name is topographical in nature, meaning it was derived from the specific landscape where the family first settled, likely referring to a wooded area or a grove near a river. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a firm presence in the Renfrew area, where they were integrated into the local social and economic life of the Scottish Lowlands. Throughout this period, the family name became closely tied to the development of the region, reflecting the typical movement of Scottish families who transitioned from holding land in rural estates to participating in the growing communities of the Clyde valley. Their history remains a clear example of how Scottish surnames were often forged by the geography of the ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Walcin
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Walter meaning powerful ruler.
This name
WalkinshawDerived from the lands of Walkinshaw in Renfrewshire, signifying a wooded grove or thicket.
also spelled
Walkingshaw
Walkinshau
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
Metcalfe, William M., A History of the County of Renfrew, 1905
National Records of Scotland, Renfrewshire Sasines, RS42
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
