Fairlie Coats of Arms

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There is no "Fairlie Family Coat of Arms"

A coat of arms in Scotland are granted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. A set of arms is granted to only one living person at a time. Descendants may inherit certain arms, or variations of them, but unless you are in possession of a grant of arms, you are not entitled to bear them.

Below are a couple of examples of arms that were granted to Fairlies of Braid (and a cadet branch of the family at Bruntsfield). They are what is called a "blazon". It's a little like a language unto itself—specific terms in a specific order mean certain things in terms of how the final image should look. Learn more about heraldry

Blazon for William Fairlie of Bruntsfield (1672)- Motto: Paratus Sum
Blazon for William Fairlie of Bruntsfield (1672)- Motto: Paratus Sum
Blazon for William Fairlie of Bruntsfield (1672)- Motto: Paratus Sum
William Fairlie of Bruntsfield (1672)
Grant of Arms to one Richard Fairlie of Bread (1672)- his crest described as "a unicorn's head couped argent" and the motto "I am readie"
Grant of Arms to one Richard Fairlie of Bread (1672)- his crest described as "a unicorn's head couped argent" and the motto "I am readie"
Grant of Arms to one Richard Fairlie of Bread (1672)- his crest described as "a unicorn's head couped argent" and the motto "I am readie"
Richard Fairlie of Bread (1672)

If you want to know a little more...

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A bit of lore

There are various stories and rumours surrounding the origins of the early arms based on the fact that they contain a rampant/fighting red lion (lyon rampant gules), similar to the Royal Banner of Scotland but lacking the double tressure flory .

Lord Crawford's Armorial (1599) - The arms of Alexander Fairlie of Braid (spelled here, 'Fairle')
Lord Crawford's Armorial (1599) - The arms of Alexander Fairlie of Braid (spelled here, 'Fairle')
Lord Crawford's Armorial (1599) - The arms of Alexander Fairlie of Braid (spelled here, 'Fairle')

Crawford Armorial (1599) - The arms of Alexander Fairlie of Braid (spelled here, 'Fairle')

Editor of Lord Crawford's Armorial , Alex Maxwell Findlater, points to an origin within Fife due to the similarity of the arms of Alexander Fairlie of Braid with those of MacDuff and the Earl of Fife. Similar in that way to those of Wemyss, Abernethy, Spens, Fernie, and so on.

Though unrelated, there are arms belonging to other nearby kingdoms and dynasties that are very similar. Read on!

Within Scotland...

Outside of Scotland...

In Mythology...

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Recorded Coats of Arms

ArmsOwnerBlazonSource
Alexander Fairlie of Braid - Or, a lion rampant gules langued azure
Alexander Fairlie of Braid - Or, a lion rampant gules langued azure
Alexander Fairlie of Braid - Or, a lion rampant gules langued azure
Alexander Fairlie of BraidOr, a lion rampant gules langued azure View
Fairley (of Braid) - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet Azure.
Fairley (of Braid) - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet Azure.
Fairley (of Braid) - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet Azure.
Fairley (of Braid)Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet Azure. View
ffairlie of Braied - Or, a lion rampant Gules debruised by a riband sinister Sable
ffairlie of Braied - Or, a lion rampant Gules debruised by a riband sinister Sable
ffairlie of Braied - Or, a lion rampant Gules debruised by a riband sinister Sable
ffairlie of BraiedOr, a lion rampant Gules debruised by a riband sinister Sable View
Fairlie of braid - Or, a lion rampant Gules langued Argent debruised by a riband Sable
Fairlie of braid - Or, a lion rampant Gules langued Argent debruised by a riband Sable
Fairlie of braid - Or, a lion rampant Gules langued Argent debruised by a riband Sable
Fairlie of braidOr, a lion rampant Gules langued Argent debruised by a riband Sable View
ferly of brad - Or, a lion rampant Gules with a mullet Azure between his forepaws
ferly of brad - Or, a lion rampant Gules with a mullet Azure between his forepaws
ferly of brad - Or, a lion rampant Gules with a mullet Azure between his forepaws
ferly of bradOr, a lion rampant Gules with a mullet Azure between his forepaws View
Fairll of Braid - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet, all debruised by a riband engrailed Sable
Fairll of Braid - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet, all debruised by a riband engrailed Sable
Fairll of Braid - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet, all debruised by a riband engrailed Sable
Fairll of BraidOr, a lion rampant Gules and in dexter chief a mullet, all debruised by a riband engrailed Sable View
Fairlie of Braid - Or, a lion rampant with a star between his fore-paws both Gules, the whole debruised by a bendlet Azure
Fairlie of Braid - Or, a lion rampant with a star between his fore-paws both Gules, the whole debruised by a bendlet Azure
Fairlie of Braid - Or, a lion rampant with a star between his fore-paws both Gules, the whole debruised by a bendlet Azure
Fairlie of BraidOr, a lion rampant with a star between his fore-paws both Gules, the whole debruised by a bendlet Azure View
William Fairlie of Bruntsfield - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in chief three mullets gules
William Fairlie of Bruntsfield - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in chief three mullets gules
William Fairlie of Bruntsfield - Or, a lion rampant Gules and in chief three mullets gules
William Fairlie of BruntsfieldOr, a lion rampant Gules and in chief three mullets gulesThe Lyon Register, 1672
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Additional notes:

* Father of Robert Fairlie. Robert Fairlie was a friend of John Knox and father of Alexander Fairlie. Alexander Fairlie married Martha Knox. Robert Fairlie had another son, Robert Fairlie. It is either the aforementioned Robert Fairlie or this latter Robert Fairlie who sold Braid to Sir William Dick .
** Braid was recorded a number of different ways: Braid, Brade, Brad, Brede, Bread, Bred, and so on. They all refer to the same place in Midlothian, covering large swathes from the south end of Edinburgh near Comiston, Morningside and the current Braid Hills to the Pentland Hills, Bavelaw and Fairliehope.