Sinclair Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Sinclair mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Sinclair name
Sinclair is a Norman habitational name from Saint-Clair in Normandy, probably Saint-Clair-sur-Epte or Saint-Clair-l'Évêque. A family of the name settled in Lothian in the 12th century and became lords of Roslin, where William Sinclair founded Rosslyn Chapel in 1446. Sinclairs later held the earldoms of Orkney and Caithness, and the name is common in the far north of Scotland.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Sinclair name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Sinclair name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Canada, Australia and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Sinclair pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Sinclair coat of arms for you.
Sinclair name FAQ
What does the Sinclair name mean?
From Saint-Clair. Common variants include St Clair, Sinkler, Saint Clair.
Where does the Sinclair surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Canada, Australia and the United States.
Is there a Sinclair coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Sinclair crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Sinclair coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).