The arms were originally granted in 1625 by King Charles I for the first Scottish colony on the Canadian mainland.

The arms are also borne as a heraldic badge by the Baronets of Nova Scotia, a chivalric order of Great Britain.

They fell out of use when Nova Scotia joined the Confederation in 1867, but were restored in 1929 by royal warrant of King George V. The arms were originally granted in 1625 by King Charles I[2] as part of a Scottish settlement attempt in Nova Scotia led by Sir William Alexander.

That for Nova Scotia had a new coat of arms comprising a salmon on a blue band between three thistles, on a gold field.

[6] The 1867–1929 shield was blazoned Or, on a fess wavy azure between three thistles proper a salmon naiant argent.