Coats Of Arms: Separating Fact From Fiction

Coats of arms are a rich part of history, but how accurate are they? The short answer is: it's complicated. Coats of arms were originally granted to individuals, not families, and could be passed down through male heirs. However, over time, families began to use coats of arms as a logo, sewing them onto flags that flew above their castles and manors. While it is rare to have a hereditary right to a coat of arms, it is possible to design and register your own. Let's delve into the fascinating world of heraldry and explore the accuracy of these symbolic representations.

Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families

Coats of arms are granted to individuals and belong to individuals. They are not granted to families. However, coats of arms can be inherited. According to the brochure "Heraldry for United States Citizens", published by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG):

> Anyone whose uninterrupted male-line immigrant ancestor was entitled to use a coat of arms has the right to use this same coat of arms. If the uninterrupted male-line immigrant ancestor has no such right, then neither does the descendant.

This means that if your ancestor was granted a coat of arms, you can use it too. But if your ancestor did not have a coat of arms, you cannot use one either.

The laws of heraldry differ in each country. In some parts of the world, it is illegal to display a coat of arms unless you are the rightful owner. Having the same surname as someone who was granted a coat of arms does not entitle you to use it.

In the past, coats of arms were granted to knights to identify them on the battlefield. Over time, coats of arms became a symbol of nobility and rank. Eventually, any man who owned land had the right to bear arms, and they became a symbol of the gentry.

Today, coats of arms are still granted to individuals by the Kings of Arms, who are deputed by the Crown. To establish your right to use a historic coat of arms, you need to know your family tree—a family surname is not enough. If you think you might be entitled to a coat of arms, you can research armorial records, which contain the original descriptions of each coat of arms.

The right to use a coat of arms is hereditary

Coats of arms are inherited, usually through the male line. They are granted to individuals, not families, and can be passed down to their descendants. In the past, only the highest classes of people in medieval Europe used coats of arms, as they were the only ones with ancestors distinguished enough to have been granted them by the kings of the time.

In England and Scotland, coats of arms were made hereditary by King Richard I in the 13th century, and each generation had to change the coat of arms slightly to distinguish it from the previous one. Women were also allowed to bear their own coat of arms, as long as it incorporated unique designs along with the main family design.

Today, coats of arms are still inherited through the male line, and to establish a right to arms by inheritance, one must prove a descent from an ancestor who is already recorded as entitled to arms. This is done by approaching the officer in waiting at the College of Arms, who can advise on the cost of having a search made in the official records for coats of arms recorded for families of one's name.

In the United States, citizens can obtain a grant or confirmation of their arms from the College of Arms in England or other appropriate national heraldic authorities by paying the required fees. Similarly, American citizens who can show descent from a subject of the British Crown can seek a grant of Honorary Arms from the Kings of Arms.

Coats of arms are not granted to families based on surname

Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families or surnames. They are a form of property and can rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. This means that if you share a surname with someone who has a coat of arms, you are not automatically entitled to use the same coat of arms.

In some parts of the world, it is illegal to display a coat of arms or use it on stationery unless you are the rightful owner. In the United States, however, there is no legal heraldic system, and no legal repercussions for displaying a coat of arms that you are not entitled to use.

Coats of arms are inherited in the male line, and can also be inherited by women in certain circumstances. For example, in England and Scotland, an eldest daughter could inherit arms in the absence of male heirs, and wives and daughters could bear modified versions of the arms. Female grantees and heraldic heiresses transmit their arms as a quartering to their descendants according to the laws of arms.

If you believe that one of your ancestors was granted a coat of arms, you can research your family tree and then contact the College of Arms or the appropriate heraldic authority for the country your ancestor was from, to request a search of their records.

Companies selling coats of arms are often misleading

Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between a coat of arms and a family crest. A coat of arms is a graphic display of a family name, unique to the individual bearer. A traditional coat of arms typically includes a patterned shield decorated with a crest, a helmet, a motto, a crown, a wreath, and a mantling. On the other hand, the crest is just one small part of the full coat of arms—an emblem or symbol worn upon a helmet or crown.

Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families or surnames. As a form of property, coats of arms may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. In most of Europe, only the aristocracy could use coats of arms, while in Germanic countries, both aristocrats and free citizens with distinguishing accomplishments could be granted this right.

Therefore, simply having a particular surname does not grant you the right to use any of the coats of arms borne throughout history by others with the same name. Companies that claim to offer your family coat of arms based on your surname are either using the coat of arms of a family with your surname (which you may not have the right to use) or making one up without telling you. While they may use all the correct parts of a real coat of arms, the one they create for you is new and has no ancestral meaning to your family.

If you are interested in legitimately claiming a coat of arms, you must research your family tree back to the ancestor you believe may have been granted a coat of arms. Then, contact the College of Arms or the appropriate authority for the country your ancestor was from and request a search of their records, usually for a fee.

Alternatively, you can design your own coat of arms for yourself or your family to use as a logo or symbol. However, it is important to note that this will not be a hereditary coat of arms and will have no official or ancestral meaning.

Coats of arms are a form of property

The history of coats of arms can be traced back to early medieval Europe, where they served as a means of identification in battle. Over time, coats of arms became associated with nobility and rank, and eventually, they became a symbol of property ownership and profession. Today, coats of arms continue to be used by countries, institutions, and individuals, with specific laws and regulations governing their use and display.

The process of creating, displaying, and granting the use of coats of arms is known as heraldry. The design of a coat of arms typically includes a shield, supporters, a crest, and a motto. The specific symbols and colours used in a coat of arms hold significant meaning and can indicate a person's profession, order of birth, rank, and ancestry.

While coats of arms are often associated with families, it is important to note that they are granted to individuals and belong to those specific people. The right to use a coat of arms can be inherited, typically passing from father to son, but it is not automatically passed down to all family members. In some cases, variations of the main emblem may be used by other family members to indicate their relation to the current holder.

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