How to Learn About Your Family Crest

A family crest is commonly referred to as a "coat of arms." This colorful shield originated in Europe and was often used in battle to help recognize the enemy's soldiers. Over time, the coat of arms became a canon for social status and heritage. Learning about your family crest can divulge how a symbol, design, color or animal communicates a special meaning about your background.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Gather knowledge about your family's unique history: Interview family members, read books and scope the Internet. Find out as many facts about your bloodline as possible, including surnames and birth dates. Identify the likely country of origin of your family's crest. Utilize online websites (such as Ancestry or MyHeritage) to help track your family's bloodline.

2. Contact the College of Arms. (See Resources.) If your genealogy is of Irish, Welsh or English descent, the College of Arms heralds may be able to provide information about your family crest. Each specialized officer accepts paying clients and will uncover information about your family's coat of arms.

3. Search free online databases for your family crest. Many websites specialize in regional coats of arms; proceed accordingly. Consider visiting www.heraldry.com for Irish backgrounds or www.houseofnames.com for families of English descent. Use the search tools to enter your familial background. Another great website is All Family Crests, which offers free preview viewings of thousands of family crests of all origins. Simply type in the first three letters of a last name for a tailored results page.

4. Examine the parts of your family crest. Once a coat of arms has been discovered, interpret its unique meaning. A family crest may have a motto scrolled across the top. Evaluate the elements on the shield, the supporters (such as an animal) that are holding the shield and the "crest" atop the coat of arms (such as a stag). A colorful wreath may flank both sides of the shield.

5. Interpret the symbols and images on your family crest. Each symbolic message was once of great importance to families who had a coat of arms. For example, according to coat of arms research site Fleur-de-lis, a lit candle would signify spirituality or life and a dragon would refer to protection or a defender (See References.) The positioning of heraldry images should also be studied and interpreted.

6. Evaluate your family crest's color and design. When a coat of arms was created, special attention was given to its color, as each referenced a specific idea. If the crest is blue, a family identified itself as loyal and true. Red may have signified military status or involvement. Wavy, jagged and indented lines on the crest could reveal difficulties the family had overcome or one of the elements (such as water, earth or fire).

Tips & Warnings

• Interview your parents, grandparents and other relatives to gather information about ancestors' birth dates, surnames and countries of residence. There are many online vendors who will create products with your family's crest (such as mugs or posters). Do not be disappointed if your search comes up empty; not all families have a coat of arms as part of their history.

References

• Ancestry Information
• All Family Crests
• Fleurelis: Family Crest Symbols & Meanings

Resources

• College of Arms
• Parts of a Coat of Arms