HERALDRY
A Very Brief Discussion of Heraldry
By William M. Walker, Jr.
​​
That crest you found online with your last name and a lion rampant? Yeah—that probably isn’t yours. Armorial Bearings are also referred to as “Grant of Arms” or a “Coat of Arms.” A Coat of Arms can follow any number of traditions depending on the country of origin but in all instances is the personal property of an individual. There is no such thing as a “family coat of arms.” A Coat of Arms may be passed from the possessor to one of their descendants and thus may create a family history associated with the arms, but it does not belong to everyone with the same last name.
​
​
The origins of heraldry cannot be traced to a single individual, time, or place. Although certain designs that are now considered heraldic were evidently in use during the eleventh century, most accounts and depictions of shields up to the beginning of the twelfth century contain little or no evidence of their heraldic character. Some point to the Bayeux Tapestry, illustrating the Norman invasion of England in 1066,
The Bayeux Tapestry on display
The United States of America has no official governmental body that regulates armorial bearings for American citizens. Therefore, there is nothing to prevent anyone from setting up a kiosk at the local shopping mall and selling “your” family coat of arms to anyone with the same last name. The proliferation of on-line sources for these fraudulent documents has only made this worse. It’s a romantic fiction, but one that disrespects the real history and ownership of arms.
and probably commissioned about 1077, as the first evidence of the existence of heraldry because no two individuals are depicted with the same arms. The tapestry depicts several shields of various shapes and designs, many of which are plain, while others are decorated with dragons, crosses, or other typically heraldic figures. Yet no individual is depicted twice bearing the same arms, nor are any of the descendants of the various persons shown
Closeup of the Bayeux Tapestry
known to have borne devices resembling those in the tapestry. So even the tapestry is disputed evidence for the beginnings of heraldry.
The origins of heraldry are sometimes associated with the Crusades. The gathering of large armies drawn from across Europe would have encouraged the adoption of armorial bearings as a means of identifying one's commanders on the field. It was during the Crusades that the surcoat came in use. This was an outer garment worn over the armor to protect the wearer from the heat of the sun. Which was often decorated with the same devices that appeared on a knight's shield. It is from this garment that the phrase "coat of arms" is derived.
An Actual Grant of Arms from the Middle Ages
Not Available at your local mall!
Symbols, Colors and Meanings
Heraldry Links
Let’s Have Some
Fun !!
© 2025, All Rights Reserved. William M. Walker, Jr.
All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.