Coat of Arms

The coat of arms originated in Europe and is also referred to as “armorial achievements” or “armorial bearings.” The coat of arms was utilized initially by knights as a way of identifying them and setting them apart from soldier-enemies. The coat of arms could belong to a group of people or merely to a specific person.

The coat of arms has evolved over time and many people and institutions use them. In particular, universities use coats of arms, and they have very careful guidelines about how they may be used and who may use them.

Coats of arms belong to the tradition of heraldry, which refers to the design and display of the arms. When towns, countries or villages use coats of arms, it is called civic heraldry.

Historic Coats of Arms

In Scotland and England, the coat of arms was the property of an individual rather than a family and was specifically passed from father to son. The coat of arms was the individual’s legal property. The coat of arms has often been used synonymously with the crest. However, there are distinctions. The crest is displayed on the helmet, whereas the coat of arms can be displayed on the shield, mantling or crest. The images are the same whether on a crest or a coat of arms, but the place where they are displayed distinguishes them.

The original coat of arms was designed for medieval battle purposes and has evolved over time to be used more like a contemporary “logo” to indicate the identity of a person or an institution. In current times, the closest thing to a coat of arms is the modern corporate logo.

Symbolic Meaning in Coats of Arms

There are various symbols and colors used in coats of arms, and they all have different meanings. Some of these include:

Colors

• Gold generosity
• Silver peace or sincerity
• Red warrior or martyr
• Green hope, joy and loyalty

Symbols

• Anchor hope; religious, steadfastness
• Angels dignity, glory
• Baton token of authority
• Bear strength, cunning, ferocity

(Information taken from Fleur-de-lis Designs)

Helpful Resources

Some online resources you might investigate to find out more about your family’s coat of arms are: Fleur-de-lis Designs: The Meanings Behind the Symbols and the House of Names.com. Or, alternately, you can make your own coat of arms at the Tree Maker.com.

Great Histories and Coats of Arms

Some of the best ancestral histories are formed with the details gleaned from the coat of arms. By uncovering the social circumstances and the geographic locations of your ancestors, you begin to get a sense of where you come from and who you are. You also sense how you are connected to those who began your family line.