Map of Scotland showing where the Wardlow arms are recorded
The Wardlow 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 Wardlow 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 Wardlow Family in Scotland
The surname Wardlow is a locational name that likely originated from individuals living near a specific hill or lookout point. In Old English, the term often referred to a watch hill or a place where guards were stationed to keep watch over the surrounding lands. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in Edinburgh, Scotland. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Wardlow family were living and working within the city during a time of significant social and economic change in the Scottish capital. As the family settled into urban life, they became part of the growing community of tradespeople and residents who helped shape the city during the Enlightenment era. This transition from rural origins to city living reflects the broader movement of families across Scotland as they sought new opportunities in the developing centers of commerce and industry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
weard hlaw
Old English for guard or watch and a hill or mound.
This name
WardlowRefers to a person who lived near a watch hill or a fortified burial mound.
also spelled
Wardlawramsay
Wardlow
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. Edinburgh Register of Testaments. 1748
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masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
