The origin of this peculiar arms was written about by Sir Robert Douglas, 6th Baronet, in 1764: The account of their origin, given by Mr. Nisbet, and other historians, is, that in the reign of king Kenneth II, a kinsman, and favourite of that king, being taken prisoner by the Picts, was put to death, and hung up upon a gallows in view of the Scots camp.
King Kenneth being highly provoked and incensed at the affront, offered a considerable reward to any of his subjects who would take down, and carry off the corpse; but, for some time, none would venture to undertake the dangerous enterprise.
At last, a gentleman of more spirit and courage than the rest, said "dal zell", which, in the old Scots language, signifies, 'I dare'.
[2]People with this surname include: Motherwell still contains Dalziel Parish, a congregation of the Church of Scotland, as well as the Dalzell Steelworks, now owned by Liberty House.
The estate of Dalziel House, the former home of the Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, is now a country park on the south side of the town.