The Truth About Heraldry: What Your Family Crest Really Means
By Ian Gubbenet, Genera Genealogical Services (GGS)

One of the most persistent myths in family history research is the belief that a surname automatically comes with a coat of arms. A quick internet search will turn up hundreds of websites offering to sell you a “family crest” tied to your last name often accompanied by an inspiring motto or a noble-looking shield. These images can be compelling, especially for those just beginning their genealogical journey. But the truth behind heraldry is far more nuanced and far more meaningful than a mass-produced plaque might suggest.

Heraldry, in its historical sense, was never about surnames. It was a system of personal identification, originally developed in medieval Europe to distinguish knights in battle and later used to denote legal, territorial, and social status. Coats of arms were granted to individuals, not families or surnames. The right to bear arms was regulated by heraldic authorities such as the College of Arms in England or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland and inheritance was strictly governed by descent through the male line. If you bear a coat of arms today, it is not because your surname matches someone from the 1500s. It is because you can prove that you descend directly from the original armiger.

For most people, the coats of arms they’ve encountered online fall into a category known as folk heraldry. These are designs associated with a surname, but with no verifiable legal grant or familial connection. They often originated in 19th-century souvenir books or 20th-century novelty shops. While not inherently misleading when understood for what they are symbolic, aspirational, and decorative these designs have no historical or genealogical weight. Unfortunately, they are frequently misrepresented as authentic evidence of noble ancestry.

So what should we make of these crests and shield designs? Even when unofficial, heraldic imagery often draws on a long tradition of symbolic language. Understanding that symbolism can still provide insight not into your legal right to arms, but into how families and communities chose to represent themselves. Here are some of the most common elements you’ll find, along with what they traditionally signify in heraldic art:

Colors (Tinctures):

• Azure (blue): Loyalty, steadfastness, and truth.

• Gules (red): Courage, military strength, and warrior honor.

• Or (gold): Generosity and elevation of mind.

• Argent (silver or white): Purity, peace, and sincerity.

• Vert (green): Hope, joy, and loyalty in love.

• Sable (black): Constancy, endurance, and sometimes grief or solemnity.

Common Charges (Symbols):

• Lion: Valor, nobility, and strength; one of the most common heraldic beasts, especially in English and Norman arms.

• Eagle: Imperial power, vision, and spiritual authority; often used in continental and Byzantine heraldry.

• Castle or Tower: Defense, protection, and fortitude; frequently seen in Iberian and Scottish designs.

• Cross: Faith and service; used in various forms, including the cross pattée and cross moline.

• Sword or Spear: Justice and military readiness.

• Chevron: Protection or leadership, especially associated with military officers or builders.

• Fleur-de-lis: Purity, often associated with French royalty and religious dedication.

Mottos

While mottos were not always formally registered, they were often passed down through armigerous families. A motto such as Virtus Vincit (“Virtue Conquers”) or Semper Fidelis (“Always Faithful”) may express a family’s values, even if the heraldry is unofficial. Crests symbols placed atop the helmet in a full achievement of arms could include beasts, human limbs, or tools, and often reinforced the symbolism of the shield itself.

But here’s the critical distinction: a shield featuring these elements only belongs to your family if it was legally granted to an ancestor and inherited by right. Sharing a surname is not enough. Hundreds of unrelated families may bear the same name especially common surnames like Smith, Kennedy, or Miller but only one line may have received an official coat of arms. The rest are admirers, not inheritors.

So what should you do if you’ve found a “family crest” online or inherited a design through family tradition? First, treat it as a lead, not a conclusion. Look for a documented paper trail. Consult sources such as Burke’s General Armory, Papworth’s Ordinary of British Armorials, or the official rolls of the College of Arms or Lord Lyon King of Arms. See if the arms in question are attached to a documented historical individual, and then trace whether your family descends directly from them particularly through the male line, since heraldry is typically patrilineal.

At Genera Genealogical Services, we often work with clients who are curious about coats of arms and noble ancestry. Some do in fact descend from armigerous ancestors, and we’re able to document those lines with supporting records. Others come away with a better understanding of the symbolic rather than genealogical value of their crest still meaningful, but grounded in historical truth rather than hopeful assumption.

Ultimately, heraldry is not just about decoration. It’s about identity, status, law, and lineage. Misused, it becomes a fantasy. But used correctly, it can enrich our understanding of the past clarifying not only who our ancestors were, but what values they lived by, what causes they served, and how they wished to be remembered.

Curious whether your family’s coat of arms is real or just folklore? We can help. At Genera Genealogical Services, we verify heraldic claims with historical accuracy, legal context, and full genealogical documentation. Contact us to begin your lineage evaluation.