Welcome to Meaning of Names,
Are you researching your Family Heritage? Well, this site has located some information on Heraldry/Coat of Arms, to help you if you are.
First of all we will be taking a look at definitions of Coat of Arms;
1. A Sur coat or Tabard embroidered with Heraldic devices worn by medieval Knights over their armor.
2.A full display of armorial bearings of a person, family or corporation, usually on a Escutcheon (1325-75)
3.Escutcheon- a shield or shield-like surface.
Brief History,
A organized system of Heraldry started around 1100. Knights wore helmets to hide and protect their faces when they met at tournaments or in battle. these Knights needed a way to tell each other apart , so each of these Knights displayed there own unique pattern on the colored coats they wore over their armor. The same pattern would also be displayed on their shields and flags(banners).
The "Coat of Arms" were the property of the Knights that wore them. The families of these Knights had no claim to them , other than by the laws of Heraldry, The first son of the first son of these Knights could bear his Fathers arms. The other sons in the lineage could use the same Coat of Arms, but they had to change the unique identifying Symbols and Markings. Therefore, if a Knight had several sons, there would be several different Symbols and Markings added to the original Coat of Arms back round.
Daughters of these Knights also had there own Symbols and Markings used on their own Crests, in which were used to carry the linage of the Father. At the time of marriage, They would combine their Symbols and Markings with that of her husbands. This would result in a different Coat of Arms, with a Symbol on the left top separated with a symbol in the bottom right of the Crest. Researching this area could become very difficult without this knowledge.
" Heralds" were created to keep track of and record all the different Coat of Arms. This special group of people were trained to recognize all the different Symbols and Markings used by these different Knights. These heralds were able to announce and record the Names of the Knights that participated in the tournaments. Later in history the Heralds would become special messengers of the Kings.
In the early 1400s, Coat of Arms became very popular resulting in many duplications. These duplications resulted in Knights fighting other Knights, over their Crests. This fighting became so intense, King Henry the 5th had to stop the development of any new Coat of Arms. King Henry decreed that their would be no other "Coat of Arms", unless your Family already had one or you were granted one by the Crown as a Gift.
In the mid 1400s, the Heralds became Inspectors under the rule of King Richard the 3rd. These Heralds were sent into the Kingdom to enforce the decree set by King Henry. These Heralds had complete jurisdiction of the King, to say who could use their Coat of Arms and deny those of its use. These actions taken then, led to the authenticity of the original Coat of Arms we see today.
Heralds, still exist today presiding over the Heraldic Lineage of the College of Arms in London,
England.
About 70% of the American Families today can claim roots to this Heritage. Anyone with British Commonwealth Decent can trace their Heraldic Lineage through the College of Arms back to England, Scotland, Ireland, 'Coat of Arms", See below for the contact information:
ADDRESS: THE COLLEGE OF ARMS
Queen Victoria street
London ec4u 4bt
England
WEBSITE: HTTP://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/
PHONE: General inquiries and officer in waiting
020 7248 2762
There are a list of 12 other phone numbers available on the website, if they will help. Please feel free to make contact, it may be worth it.
Documentation you will need may consist of :
1. Documentation proving you are a Direct Descendant of a Arms bearing Ancestor in an unbroken line of First Sons,
2. Proof that you are a Descendant of another Son of a Arms Bearing Ancestor,
3. If your English or Welsh Descent you can request a new Coat of Arms be assigned to you.
Note: When you refer to the "Coat of Arms" as we do, You will need to address it as a "Achievement of Arms" while speaking with them.
In future posts, List other sources will be available in aiding with your research regarding Heraldry. We hope this information helps you in your search for your Ancestry.
Looking for more information regarding Heraldry , or any subject concerning Coat of Arms, Family Crests, Coat of Arms Meaning, German Coat of Arms, English Coat of Arms, Irish Coat of Arms and Surname meaning and Origin and more, Please feel free to visit;
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