A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wellwood family of Scotland.
Reg. 1087 · Scottish, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
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. an oak tree acorned growing out of a well in base ppr”
FifeGarvock · Fife, c. 1769
Where the Wellwood Arms Were Recorded
Fife
Map of Scotland showing where the Wellwood arms are recorded
The Wellwood arms were recorded in Fife, c. 1769.
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 III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Wellwood 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 Wellwood Family in Scotland
The Wellwood family name is deeply rooted in the landscape of Fife, Scotland, where the family established a notable presence by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is topographical, likely derived from a descriptive location such as a "well in the woods," which suggests that early ancestors were identified by the specific natural features of the land they inhabited. By 1769, records confirm that the Wellwoods were active members of the local community in Fife, a region historically defined by its coastal towns and agricultural estates. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic fabric of the area, often associated with the management of land and local industry. This connection to the Scottish Lowlands provided a stable foundation for the family, allowing them to maintain their influence in the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wielle and Wudu
Old English terms for a spring or stream and a forest.
This name
WellwoodRefers to a dwelling place located near a wooded area or a forest spring.
also spelled
Wellwode
Welwode
Related arms
Grahamrecorded with Wellwood, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Records of Scotland, Register of Sasines, Fife, 1769
Wood, Walter, The East Neuk of Fife: Its History and Antiquities, 1862
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oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
