Does Our Surname Have a Coat of Arms? Heraldry vs. Surname Merchandise
Mugs and plaques sold with a "family crest" for your surname aren't what they seem. How heraldry actually works, and how to find out whether an ancestor really had arms.
Visit any tourist shop or a certain kind of website and you can buy a plaque, mug or framed print showing "the coat of arms for your surname." It makes a nice gift. But in nearly every case, it isn't your family's coat of arms, because surnames don't have coats of arms. People do.
How heraldry works
In the European tradition, a coat of arms was granted to, or assumed by, an individual. It identified that person, and it passed by inheritance, typically to his legitimate descendants, often in the male line, with variations to distinguish different sons and branches. Two unrelated families with the same surname had no shared right to anyone's arms.
- In England, grants of arms have been made by the College of Arms for centuries, and its records show who received arms and who is entitled to them.
- In Scotland, arms are a matter of law, regulated by the Court of the Lord Lyon. Each coat of arms belongs to one person at a time.
- On the European continent, practices varied widely, and arms were used by nobles, towns, guilds and some commoners.
Most of our ancestors, whether farmers, laborers or tradespeople, never had a coat of arms at all.
Coat of arms vs. crest
The two terms are often confused. The coat of arms is the shield and its design. The crest is just one part of a full heraldic display: the figure that sits on top of the helmet above the shield. "Family crest" is a popular term, but heraldic experts use "coat of arms" for the design as a whole.
What the merchandise actually shows
Companies selling "surname" arms typically take a coat of arms that once belonged to someone, somewhere, with your surname or a similar one, and sell it to everyone with that name. There's no research into whether you descend from that person, and often no way to know who he was. Some designs are simply made up.
That doesn't mean you can't enjoy one as decoration. Just don't treat it as evidence of your ancestry, or as proof of noble descent.
Clan and tartan: a different tradition
Scottish clan badges and tartans are a different matter from personal coats of arms. Clan members commonly wear a crest badge showing the clan chief's crest within a strap and buckle, which signals allegiance to the chief rather than personal arms. If you have Scottish ancestry, clan societies can be a fun way to connect with your heritage, though shared surname doesn't prove shared descent.
Other traditions
Many cultures had symbols that served similar purposes, such as Japanese kamon (family crests) and Polish heraldic clans, in which many unrelated families shared the same arms. Each has its own rules, so don't apply English heraldry to them.
How to find out whether an ancestor had arms
- Trace your line back, generation by generation, with records. You need a documented ancestor before you can ask whether he was granted arms.
- Look for arms in family records: seals on wills and deeds, bookplates, engraved silver, gravestones, and family Bibles. An ancestor who used arms often left them on his possessions.
- Check heraldic authorities and references: for England, the College of Arms; for Scotland, the Court of the Lord Lyon; and published armorials for other countries.
- Be careful with colonial "arms." Some colonial Americans used arms they had no right to; others had genuine grants. Scholarly heraldry societies have studied many cases.
Can I get my own coat of arms?
Yes. In some countries, private individuals can petition for a new grant of arms. In the United States, there's no official heraldic authority, but some heraldic societies register arms designed by individuals. A newly designed coat of arms can be a meaningful way to honor your family history, as long as it's understood as new.