Family Coat of Arms

Our Family Photo Books Family Coat of Arms

Coats of arms and other armorial bearings are devised, described and regulated by the heraldry system. For many, the word heraldry evokes stories of knights, castles and colourful banners. Historically speaking, a coat of arms was a design on the shield of a medieval knight and the design was unique to an individual. Sometimes the individual only had the right to the coat of arms for his lifetime, other times it could be passed down to his descendants, and in this case, it became the family coat of arms.

The first documented coat of arms dates to mid-1100s Europe. Heraldry quickly spread from Europe to Middle Eastern and Asian countries and became a way of recognising people and families.

By the 13th century families were using coats of arms (usually granted by a previous ancestor) as a family logo and these were sewn onto flags to display above their castles. Only the highest classes of medieval European people 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 Germanic countries, aristocrats and free citizens could be granted a coat of arms through distinguished accomplishments.

Contrary to popular thought, coats of arms don’t go to all people with a common surname (just imagine how many branches of a family tree the surname Smith could have). If an individual was granted the right to pass the coat of arms down to his male descendants then, that would be the linage branch it would follow. In England and Scotland, the eldest daughter, in the absence of a male heir could receive it. Wives and daughters could bear modified versions customarily in a diamond shape.

Clergymen and ladies in continental Europe would often bear their arms in the oval shape.

Buyer beware of heraldic merchandise – without tracing direct lineage the claim may be false, or made up, with no ancestral meaning to your family. In the absence of a family coat of arms, there are online companies that help you design your own if you would like to.

Family coats of arms are not just pretty pictures, their colours (livery colours), lines, patterns, animals, mythological creatures, celestial beings, crosses, fruits, flowers, and symbols can indicate the order of birth, profession, achievements, temperament, ancestry and more. It is quite interesting to investigate the meanings.

Personally, I find them fascinating. Without direct lineage (I am the firstborn daughter but have four brothers and my father is the fourth born son in his family), I still like to use them as a colourful picture at the top of my pictorial family tree on each branch, because it adds to the narrative and intrigue of family history.

I hope you have enjoyed this article.

Let me know in the comments below if you would like the link to some websites to explain colours and symbols within your family coat of arms.