Map of Scotland showing where the Woodbury arms are recorded
The Woodbury 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 Woodbury 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 Woodbury Family in Scotland
The surname Woodbury is a locational name that originated in England, specifically derived from places in Devon and other regions where the name meant a fortified town or a stronghold located near a wood. While the name has deep roots in the English landscape, families bearing the name eventually migrated across the British Isles, establishing a notable presence in Scotland by the mid-eighteenth century. Records confirm that members of the Woodbury family were living in Edinburgh by 1748, a time when the city was undergoing significant intellectual and social changes during the Scottish Enlightenment. These early settlers likely moved north for professional opportunities or trade, integrating into the bustling urban life of Scotland’s capital. Over time, the family name became a part of the diverse social fabric of Edinburgh, reflecting the broader movement of people and families across Britain during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wudu-burh
Old English for wood or forest and a fortified town or stronghold.
This name
WoodburyRefers to a person who lived near a fortified settlement located within a forest.
also spelled
Woodbourne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms, 1748
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