Findlayter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The Findlayter family saga is rooted in the people of the Pictish Clan of ancient Scotland. The Findlayter family lived on the lands of Findlater in Banffshire where the family has a long and distinguished history dating back to the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Findlayter family

The surname Findlayter was first found in Banffshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhanbh), former Scottish county located in the northeasterly Grampian region of Scotland, now of divided between the Council Areas of Moray and Aberdeenshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Findlayter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Findlayter research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1366 is included under the topic Early Findlayter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Findlayter Spelling Variations

Prior to the invention of the printing press in the last hundred years, documents were basically unique. Names were written according to sound, and often appeared differently each time they were recorded. Spelling variations of the name Findlayter include Findlater, Finlater, Finlator, Finlaytor, Findlayter and many more.

Early Notables of the Findlayter family

More information is included under the topic Early Findlayter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Findlayter family to Ireland

Some of the Findlayter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Findlayter family

The freedom of the North American colonies was enticing, and many Scots left to make the great crossing. It was a long and hard journey, but its reward was a place where there was more land than people and tolerance was far easier to come by. Many of these people came together to fight for a new nation in the American War of Independence, while others remained loyal to the old order as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of Scots in North America have recovered much of this heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and other such organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important and early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Findlayter: William Findlater who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1796; Thomas Finlater settled in New Jersey in 1685.

The Findlayter Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sit mihi libertas
Motto Translation: Liberty be mine.