Crests

Crests began as a form of heraldry, which was the practice of indicating the identity of a soldier bearing arms by the crest designed on their helmet. Since most American families have their origins in other parts of the world, many people have crests associated with our surnames.

Crest takes its name from the position of the symbol atop the helmet, like the rooster’s crest sits atop its head. Though crests were originally worn on helmets, they eventually were made of leather and various materials. There are many objects typically seen in crests, including lions, shields, birds, hands holding weapons and crowns.

Women did not bear crests because they did not wage battle, and subsequently, they had no helmet upon which to wear a crest. Clergymen did not wear them either for the same reasons. The only exception to this is in England, where the queen wears her own unique crest that is completely different from crests worn by kings.

The crest has a rich history in Germanic countries, as well as in England, Poland and Hungary. The crest and the name of the crest were often used by all the members of a given family.

Searching for Your Family’s Crest

For genealogists, finding the family crest can be a wonderful part of creating a family history. There are good online resources to help you locate your family crest. One website is House of Names.com. On this site, you can search through their large list of family crests to find yours. The site will not only display your crest, but it will provide you with a brief excerpt telling you a bit about your family. It will tell you the meaning of your surname, the origins of the surname, and a brief history of your family’s origins. It is a fascinating place to reveal unknown information about your earliest predecessors.

The family crest can divulge details about your background. You will see what your family was renowned for in ages gone by, whether they held a family seat in a given location, what the traditions and ideals were for them, and other details of typically untold information.

Family Crest and Historical Depth

The family crest is just one more key in the fantastic arsenal of a good genealogist that unlocks hidden doorways into the past. You can find out so much about where you came from and what your family stood for – all by learning about your crest. The family crest is a fantastic part of a good genealogical history and can be used not only ornamentally, but also informatively to tell people of the rich history of your family.

Make sure that you look for your family crest as you delve into your family research.