We have compiled a listing of some of the grants made to Davidsons, Davisons and Dawsons by the Lyon Court in Edinburgh and the College of Arms in London.
- Do you know if any of your ancestors used arms?
- Do you know how to find out?
Explore this section to view pictures of Davidson arms. Try to spot similarities and differences in the use of symbols by Davidsons from the sixteenth century to the present day.
We have listed, in date order, the arms we’ve found in the records at the Lyon Court, Edinburgh, and the College of Arms, London.
Arms from members of the same family are grouped together. We’ve included full details of Davidson arms, together with some of the many Davison and Dawson records.
Note: we have yet to complete research on many Davisons and Dawsons who were granted arms after 1880.
Click on either list to view each individual set of arms, with supporting detail and blazons.

- Vol 1.284 Robert Davidson of Balgay, Dundee 1672-77
- Vol 1.284 Alexander Davidson of Carnbrogie [Cairnbrogie], Advocate, Aberdeen 1672-85
- Vol 1.136 Sir William Davidson of Corriehill, [Curriehill] 1672-85
- Vol 1.664 James Davidson of Halltree [Hallbise] 1758
The following 3 items are from the same family:
- Vol 1.666 & 1.667 William Davidson of Muirhouse, Edinburgh 1786
- Vol 1.665 Thomas Davidson of Muirhouse, Edinburgh 1795
- Vol 28.17 The Most Revd & Rt. Hon Archbishop Randal Thomas Davidson,Baron of Lambeth & Archbishop of Canterbury 1929
- Vol 1.663 David Davidson of Cantray 1788
- Vol 17.31 John James Sinclair Davidson of Wimbledon, London 1903
The following 4 items are all from the Davidson of Tulloch family:
- Vol 18.62 Duncan Davidson of Tulloch, 6th Laird of Tulloch 1906
- Vol 54.58 Charles Dermot Davidson of Washington State, USA 1970
- Vol 78.77 Duncan Hector Davidson, 1st Davidson of Davidston 1996
- Vol 83.13 Alister Guthrie Davidson, 2nd Davidson of Davidston 1998
- Vol 19.46 Andrew Davidson FRCP, FRCS of Clavell House, Belvedere, Kent 1907
- Vol 20.52 Robert Pringle Davidson MA of Edinburgh 1909
- Vol 21.50 Sir James MacKenzie Davidson Kt. of Aberdeeen & London MB 1912
- Vol 30.80 The Clan Dhai 1933, Revived as The Clan Davidson Association in 1991.
- Vol 31.25 Major James Milne Milne-Davidson [formerly Davidson] 1934
- Vol 33.65 Thomas Reginald Davidson 1939
- Vol 36.107 Captain Duncan Gordon Davidson of Tillychetly and Dess 1948
- Vol 39.52 Hugh Alexander Charles Davidson 1953
- Vol 39.98 William Alexander Davidson 1953
- Vol 40.38 Davidson’s Mains School, Edinburgh 1954
- Vol 44.89 Sir David Davidson KCB of Alltdinnie, Aboyne, Aberdeen 1961
The following 3 items are from the same family:
- Vol 57.7 James Sylvar Butchart Davidson PhD, BSc 1971
- Vol 56.59 James Cresey Davidson, DFC 1973
- Vol 76.65 David Falconer Davidson 1996
The following 5 items are from the same family:
- Vol 56.114 John Stirton Davidson PhD BSc 1974
- Vol 57.49 George Marshall Davidson 1973
- Vol 58.79 Alexander Fraser Davidson OBE 1977
- Vol 70.82 Susan Elizabeth Davidson, 1990
- Vol 72.35 Robert Tiller Davidson 1990
The following 2 items are from the same family:
- Vol 68.111 Mistress Jean Davidson [married name Randall] 1987
- Vol 71.51 Alexander Leith MacFarlane Davidson 1987
- Vol 73.48 Charles George Davidson 1981
- Vol 67.90 Clifford Davison of Fairburn 1987
- Vol 73.54 Charles Jack Davidson MBE Major RA 1991
The following 2 items are linked to the same family.
- Vol 82.84 Alexander Henderson Davidson 2000
- Vol 80.95 Alan Neil Ramsay Davidson C.A., Lt Royal Regiment of Wales 2001
Arms of Australian Davidsons at the Lord Lyon’s Court, Edinburgh
The following 17 items all relate to the descendants of William Davidson 1807-1878 of Alva, Stirlingshire, and Walcha, New England, Australia:-
- Vol 67.35 Douglas Graham Davidson 1985
- Vol 68.57 Jack Sutherland Davidson 1985
- Vol 68.61 David Ross Davidson 1985
- Vol 68.62 Ian James Davidson 1985
- Vol 68.63 Pamela Joan Davidson 1985
- Vol 68.70 Bruce Thomas Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.73 Frank Sutherland Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.74 Donald Raymond Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.68 Grahame William Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.75 Dorothy Ann Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.81 Heather Dawn Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.84 Charles John Davidson 1986
- Vol 70.4 Duncan Maurice Davidson 1986
- Vol 68.85 Norman Keith Davidson 1986
- Vol 72.33 David James Davidson 1990
- Robert William Davidson 2008
- Madame Camilla Davidson
Arms of Dawsons at the Lyon Court, Edinburgh
The following 7 matriculations are all linked to the same family
- Vol 27.51 Bruce Rupert George Dawson of Orchil, Braco 1927
- Vol 28.20 Alexander Thomson Dawson of Rubislaw Den, North Aberdeen 1929
- Vol 36.121 James Mearns Dawson, son of Alexander Dawson of Foxhill 1948
- Vol 36.122 Peter Michael Dawson, son of Alexander Dawson 1948
- Vol 36.123 Alistair Benedict Dawson, 4th son of Alexander Dawson 1948
- Vol 37.147 Christopher Dawson of Ardo, 5th son of Alexander Dawson 1948
- Vol 56.56 Peter Dawson, son of Rupert John Dawson 1973

- William Davidson or Davison 1575
- Davidson of North Wales 1586
- Sir Alexander Davison of Blakiston Co. Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1631
- Morton I. Davison of Beamish, Durham c1740
- Samuel Davison of Brand Hall, Shropshire 1793
- Revd John Robert Davison 1819
- Davison of Warkworth, Northumberland
- Vol 49. 275 David Meyer Davidson, London 1850
- Vol 72. 92 Madgwick George Davidson, London 1901
- Vol 84. 101 Albert Davidson, Sheffield, 1916
- Vol 105. 48 Sir Alfred Charles Davidson, New South Wales, Australia 1938
- Vol 104. 244 Viscount John Colin Davidson, Little Gaddesden 1937
- Vol 127. 297 Viscountess Frances Joan Davidson 1964, Wife of Viscount Davidson
- Vol 108. 286 Sir William Henry Davison, Rt Hon Baron Broughshane, Kensington 1945
- Vol 111. 52 James Davidson, Rhodesia 1948
- Vol 152.9 John Robert Brotherhood Dawson 1987
- Informal Arms: Sir Walter Edward Davidson, died 1923