How to Uncover Your Real Coat of Arms
Armorial bearings, or coats of arms, take us back to the glamour
of the middle ages. In days of old, knights displayed heraldic
devices on their horses' caparisons, their servants' liveries,
and on their banners and shields. As war medals are awarded
today, so coats' of arms and other heraldic devices could be
awarded to knights for their service in battle. But the primary
role of coats' of arms was identification in battle - the
bright, vibrant colors and symbols identified the knight to his
men, and his flying banner was a rallying point for them.
Heraldry refers to the study of coats of arms, and takes its
name from the Heralds, who were the special ambassadors and
messengers of feudal times. They were employed by all great
lords, and by the king. Because Heralds traveled freely around
the country, they were also the armorial officials. They granted
armorial bearings. At tournaments, it was the Heralds' job to
check that no knight appeared in the tournament lists displaying
the heraldic devices of another. In battle, it was the Heralds'
job, on both sides, to identify the living and the dead, and to
declare the winner.
Heralds still exist today. Many countries in Europe have offices
of Heralds, including Britain. If you find that you have a
British ancestor, you can apply to be granted the right to bear
your ancestors' coat of arms. If your British ancestor didn't
have a coat of arms, you can choose your own devices (symbols),
and a coat of arms may be created for you.
What does coat of arms mean? In medieval times, knights wore a
thickly padded coat over their chain mail to protect them from
sword thrusts, and their armorial bearings were painted on this
coat. After a battle, it was the Heralds' unpleasant duty to
identify the dead, and the deceased knights were identified by
their painted coats: their coats of arms.
The Language and Symbols of Heraldry
Heraldry can seem complex to us, with its many colors and
symbols, but 600 years ago you would have been able to read the
colors and symbols on a knight's livery, banner, and coat of
arms as easily as you can read a billboard today. In those days,
although most people (even the wealthy) were illiterate, they
understood heraldic symbols, and what they meant. Everything on
a coat of arms had meaning to them: the colors, the quarterings
or other divisions, and the symbols, which could include swords,
shields, crowns, animals and mythical beasts.
Are You Eligible for a REAL Coat of Arms?
If you have a British ancestor, you may be eligible. But
claiming entitlement to a coat of arms, or applying for a new
coat of arms, is a complicated process because you must apply to
the College of Heralds of your ancestor's country. Bear in mind
that those kiosks you see set up in malls, or the various
websites that "specialize" in providing coats of arms based on
your last name, are really just for fun (if you want to be
generous in describing their motives). What you'll receive from
these places really has nothing to do with a true coat of arms
that may have been granted to your ancestors.
Resources to Help in Applying for a Real Coat of Arms:
* College of Arms (England and Wales): www.college-of-arms.gov.uk
* The Heraldry Society of Scotland (Scotland):
http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk
* Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland (Ireland) at the
National Library of Ireland: http://www.nli.ie