Each family crest is unique. The colors, animals, and symbols that appear in a coat of arms all tell us something important about the family it belongs to. You might expect to see colors, animals, crosses, and other symbols on a coat of arms. Did you know there may also be images that resemble people? It might seem strange, but sometimes, there are people on a coat of arms. The people might represent deities, or mythological creatures. It could be half humanoid, and half animal. Or, there may be only a part of a person, instead of a whole person … Continue reading →

There are a variety of symbols that may appear on your family crest, or coat of arms. Some are easily recognizable, such as a color, or an animal. It makes sense to infer certain ideas based on characteristics we tend to attribute to these things. Purple is a color that many of us associate with royalty. We consider a fox to be a wise creature. Therefore, when we see the color purple, or a fox appear on a coat of arms, we automatically understand what it means. What about less recognizable symbols? Sometimes, it is not as obvious what the … Continue reading →

The term “family crest” is a misnomer. The first crests were assigned to individual knights, who needed to be able to identify themselves to their followers. Later, the knowledge of the meanings behind the colors and symbols on each crest became known as the science of heraldry. Many people use the term “family crest” and the term “heraldry” as if they mean exactly the same thing. A family crest might also be called a “coat of arms”. An official coat of arms is supposed to have some specific things. At the top, there should be a motto. Below the motto … Continue reading →