What is a Family Crest?
I am sure you have at least once wondered if you or your family name has a crest. What is a family crest you say? It’s a medieval symbol that was often used to separate prestigious families of some sort of wealth or notoriety.
A family crest is a symbol or design that represents a family’s history, heritage and achievements. It is often part of a coat of arms, typically displayed on shields, banners, or other items. The crest usually sits above the shield and may include symbols like animals, objects, or colours that have special meaning to the family. Family crests were used in medieval times to identify families, especially in battle or in tournaments, and they are still used today to honour family traditions and legacy.
Do I have a Family Crest?
Family crests are often linked to noble or hereditary families, and if your ancestors had a coat of arms or a family crest, it would typically have been passed down through the generations. To determine if you have a family crest, you can start by researching your family tree, especially if you know any ancestors who may have held a title or had a coat of arms.
Online genealogy tool or archives can be useful for tracing your lineage. Additionally, some regions have heraldic societies that maintain records of coats of arms, such as the College of Arms in the UK or the American Heraldry Society. You can also ask older family members if they have any knowledge of a crest, as some families keep old records or heirlooms that display it. If you can’t find a family crest, i doesn’t necessarily mean one never existed, your family might not have had one, or the information could have been lost over time.
What does a family crest represent?
So, you’ve discovered you have a family crest but what does it represent?
Symbols on family crests, or coats of arms, represent values, traits, or achievements. Colours have specific meanings: red for strength and sacrifice, blue for loyalty and faith, green for hope and loyalty in marriage, black for wisdom and prudence, and purple for royalty and justice.
Shapes also have a significance: a diagonal stripe represents protection, a chevron (inverted “V”) symbolizes service, a cross stands for faith and valour, a saltire (“X-shaped cross) represents resolution, and a pile (downward triangle) stands for military strength.
Animals also have a huge significance for example, a calf represents patience, while other symbols such as a star, arrow, axe, and badger symbolises progress, readiness, service and intelligence.
Myths and False Information
There are a few common myths about coats of arms, including:
- Coats of arms are for families: Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families or surnames.
- You can design your own coat of arms: In some countries, such as Scotland, it’s illegal to design your own coat of arms without a grant. In Canada, it’s not strictly illegal, but it’s considered improper.
- You can assume a coat of arms based on your surname: There’s no coat of arms for a surname, such as Smith, Jones or Williams.
Is there a difference between a Family Crest and Coats of Arms?
To answer that question, yes, there is!
The terms family crest and coat of arms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different parts of a heraldic design.
- Coat of arms: This is the full heraldic design, which includes the shield, crest, supporters, motto and other elements. It represents the family’s history, achievements, and heritage. The coat of arms include everything that makes up the formal design, such as the colours, shapes and symbols on the shield.
- Family Crest: This is specifically the symbol or emblem that sits above the shield in the full coat of arms. The crest is usually a figure or object, like a lion, eagle, or crown, and was originally used on top of the helmet in a knight’s armour. It is a smaller part of the coat of arms.
In summary, the coat of arms refers to complete heraldic design while the family crest is just the part that sits above the shield.
Want to find out more?
At Family Wise, we provide a variety of services, including people tracing, DNA testing, and beneficiary research. As one of the UK’s top probate research and genealogy firms, we’re here to help uncover family secrets or confirm ancestral stories. Whether for yourself or as a gift for someone else, get in touch today for a free no-obligation quote.
