Coat of Arms and Family Crests
Resources
The
Coat of Arms and Family Crests have been acknowledged since 12th
century when knights started wearing helmets that completely covered
their face. This made the knight unrecognizable to friends and enemies
and initiated the need for displaying symbols on their shields, cloaks
and banners so they could be known.
Even earlier, symbols were used by the Romans to distinguish one
warrior from another. But it wasn't until 1483 when King Richard III
chartered the College of Heraldry that there was a standard and
enforcement of Coat of Arms.
Many family's believe they have Coats of Arms and Crests associated
with their surname. However, a Coat of Arms is registered by the
College of Heraldry to one
individual who either earned the right to the arm through some noble
deed or inherited the right from his father. The right to
bear a specific family arm is passed from father to oldest son,
however, the yourger sons and daughters can also bear modified arms
through the law of cadency.
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