Does your family have an official coat of arms? While you may be
inclined to think that coats of arms were only bestowed to wealthy European
nobility, a significant number of individuals in the U.S. can trace their lineage
to a family coat of arms. In fact, one
family coat of arms research and merchandise company finds that
approximately 90% of all customers that seek out a coat of arms actually find
one!
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Coats of arms feature a decorative insignia used to represent a
family's location or achievements. They were originally featured on a specific
item like a helmet or shield, and passed down from one individual to another through
generations. Coats of arms were often displayed
on the shields of knights as a symbol of pride and, for practical purposes,
identity. Many family coats of arms also feature mottos that reflect the
family's philosophy or most deeply-held values. A coat of arms typically
encompasses a number of different features, including a crest (the emblem or
symbol), the shield of elements, and the motto. Coats of arms can be found in a
variety of colors and intricate designs and are celebrated in a number of
countries throughout Europe.
It's no surprise that genealogy and ancestral research has grown
in popularity of late. With the increasing abundance of historical information
at our fingertips, finding information about our distant relatives is no longer
a treasure hunt. We can view family members' immigration papers, their
signatures ship manifests, their birth certificates, and much more. Learning
more about a family coat of arms is simply another way to forge a meaningful connection
between past and present. By identifying your family's coat of arms, you can:
·
Learn more
about your family's heritage, including where they hailed from, their social
rank, and their official motto.
·
Celebrate
your family history by displaying your family's coat of arms on flags,
clothing, framed embroideries, pennants, wooden shields, tote bags, and more.
·
Be inspired
to modify or design a new family coat of arms with an insignia and motto that
reflect your current beliefs to pass down to future generations.
Helpful Tips
When seeking out services to identify a family coat of arms,
always work with a company that relies on an extensive database to conduct its research.
This not only increases your chances of identifying a coat of arms, but is a
good measure of a company's legitimacy.
Additionally, remember that some coats of arms are trademarked,
which means that only the direct heir can legally determine how the coat of
arms is used. If your family's coat of arms is trademarked, you may not be able
to use it as you wish.
