What is the meaning of family crest

Ever wondered if your family has a coat of arms or a family crest?

Heraldry arose in the 11 th and 12 th centuries, around the time of the Crusades, a series of military campaigns undertaken by Christian armies from to In battle, a knight dressed head to toe in armor would not be recognizable to friend or foe, so a new method of identification became necessary. The origins of heraldry stretch back into ancient times. Warriors often decorated their shields with patterns and mythological motifs. Army units of the Roman Empire were identified by the distinctive markings on their shields. These were not heraldic in the medieval sense, as they were associated with military units, not individuals or families. The blazon may seem like a foreign language, but it is simply a system of code words to denote colors, placement, and styling by using an economy of words.

What is the meaning of family crest

Family crests once held a special place in many families across Europe. More recently family crests have appeared on stationary and as signs on gates. But, have you ever wondered what those crests mean? Here are some common crest symbols and how to interpret them. Heraldry designs were intended to be visible from far away and highly recognizable. For this reason there were strictures on which colors went together. There were basic background colors like red, blue, green, black, and purple. Then there were two metal colors, yellow for gold and white for silver. Colors had meanings for each family. There were also patterned backgrounds symbolic of animal fur. The most common were ermine in black and white and squirrel in blue and white , but other fur patterns were also used. The ordinaries of a crest were basic lines that could intersect, outline, or otherwise define areas of the overall design. Some examples are of charges are:. The way the lines or borders were formed also had meaning. The general rule of thumb is that only high contrast color combinations were to be used.

It also means that you could be weeding through crests for years before you find the one that's authentic. For a list of symbols and their meanings, without illustrations, visit Meanings: All.

The first question that comes to mind for anyone who has ever seen a coat-of-arms, also referred to as a family crest, is what do all of the painted symbols and icons on the shield and crest mean? The Roman symbol of Liberty. ANT: Also known as the Emmet, patience and forethought. ANTELOPE: The symbol of peace and harmony, the heraldic antelope is unlike its cousin in the zoo or safari park, featuring the body of a stag with the tail of the Unicorn and fearsome horns. The crest of Fitzgerald. ARM: Very common in crests, denotes industry. ARROW: The symbol of readiness, commonly used as a pun on the surname, as in Fletcher arrow maker , usually seen in crests, but occurs regularly on the shield also.

Jul 1, Blog , Heraldry. A family crest is important to your coat of arms and family history. Family crests are a fascinating subject with a rich history. A family crest is an element that crests the design, as shown in the photo below the crest sits on top of the coat of arms. The design of the crest can include a lion, tiger, horse or cross, but there are many others. Similarly, some crests include arrows or chains. For example, a lion represents deathless courage and hence the symbol of a true warrior. Something to share with friends down the pub when they question your character! Sometimes the term family crest can refer to the overall design but specifically, it relates to the part on top of the coat of arms. Discover your family crest, coat of arms and surname history using our search tool at the top of the page.

What is the meaning of family crest

The first question that comes to mind for anyone who has ever seen a coat-of-arms, also referred to as a family crest, is what do all of the painted symbols and icons on the shield and crest mean? The Roman symbol of Liberty. ANT: Also known as the Emmet, patience and forethought. ANTELOPE: The symbol of peace and harmony, the heraldic antelope is unlike its cousin in the zoo or safari park, featuring the body of a stag with the tail of the Unicorn and fearsome horns. The crest of Fitzgerald. ARM: Very common in crests, denotes industry. ARROW: The symbol of readiness, commonly used as a pun on the surname, as in Fletcher arrow maker , usually seen in crests, but occurs regularly on the shield also.

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National Park Service. A spiked weapon. David Briley on 15th March at pm. The amount due at checkout will be split into equal bi-monthly payments. Wendy Spencer on 16th March at pm. The coat of arms generally refers to the, cape, shield, crest and helmet, while the family crest technically only refers to the small image that lies on the helm top of the helmet. Warriors often decorated their shields with patterns and mythological motifs. It is painted with two feathers where the feet should be and denotes somebody who subsists on wings of virtue. Each of the elements that comprise a crest work in tandem to represent character traits that the family is known for, such as strength, wisdom, leadership, agility and resilience. Several legitimate authorities such the American College of Heraldry in the United States and the College of Arms in the United Kingdom may be able to help you create or confirm a family crest that you and your children can use. Beth Motley on 3rd March at pm. In other countries that have heraldry authorities, a person can petition the agency for the right to bear arms, or for use of the family crest. Our research team do regularly update our records so it may be added to our database in the future.

Ever wondered if your family has a coat of arms or a family crest?

Here are some common crest symbols and how to interpret them. MACE: Ornamental staff, the emblem of authority. Now, you can tell the kiosk guy at the mall you already know the deal: There's no such thing as one coat of arms for your last name [source: Powell]. Bi-weekly payments will then be automatically deducted from your card on the 1st and 15th day of each month. Usually the fur coat of the weasel is represented. S and the United Kingdom. Any views expressed in message boards and members notes represent the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions of Findmypast Limited. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Arm or Hand in Armour or Embowed. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Griffin head, wings, and talons of an eagle with the body of a lion : valour and death-defying bravery; vigilance. Do I have a family crest Reply.