How to Find the Meanings Behind Your Family Crest
The leaders of prominent families and nobility designed family crests or coat of arms centuries ago in Europe. They composed each crest with a variety of objects containing special meanings attributed to the reputation of the family. You can decode your family crest, finding the inner meanings of traits your ancestors thought important enough to proclaim as their own throughout history.
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Instructions
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Find your true family crest. If you have a copy handed down from family members, it indicates that you have the genuine family crest in hand. Online sources have many crests available, but many variations of some crests exist. It takes some research to determine the correct one.
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Begin with the colors of the shield. The background shield color represents the base value that the maker wanted to convey. Maroon meant patient in battle, gold was generosity and white was sincerity and peace. A shield or crest containing fur was a mark of dignity.
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Look for heraldic lines that can separate the different portions of the shield. The shape of the line itself signifies different things depending on the shape of the edge. Lines represent fire, water, encountered difficulties and fortress walls, among others.
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Find all the little additions to the shield to add to the detail of the interpretation. Dozens of different crest items signify different attributes, including animals, birds, insects, daily objects, leaves, flowers and creatures from the sea. Each item means a different thing. All the symbols put together create the story the designer wished to tell.
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