By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 30, 2024
What does your family name signify? Does it mean anything about where your family came from? In historic times, people would take what was unique about their family and their family history and put it on a family crest.
A family crest is a design that shows what is important and special about a family. This family crest design would then be put on a coat of arms.
A coat of arms is a heraldic design that shows other clans or families the kind of family you may be fighting against. People don’t typically have family crests or a coat of arms in this day and age. But, if you’re wondering what would be on your coat of arms if you did have one, we’re here to help. Answer a few questions, and we’ll tell you!
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic device that used to adorn medieval knights' shields. The coat of arms would include a family crest, and it would be added to the knight's armor.
Noble families began using coats of arms in the 12th century. A knight or warrior would wear their own coat of arms that represented their family tree. These crests typically featured the family's name, their alliances, the property they owned, and their profession.
The crests often had animals on them, like dragons, lions, or bears. The coats of arms also featured a variety of colors and metals, and each of those colors and metals had their own meanings.
What Should Be On Your Coat of Arms?
Ever wondered what your personal coat of arms would look like if you were prancing around in the middle ages, or heck, even today? Imagine showing up at a party with your own blazon-of-glory on a t-shirt; that's instant convo-starter gold! Coats of arms aren't just for dusty old families with more ancestors than sense – they're a canvas for your personality, a heraldic high-five to your ancestry, and, let's be honest, they're also a fantastic way to flex your creative muscle at the next renaissance fair.
We all have that one friend who claims they're descended from royalty, but what if we could all claim our own noble heritage with a DIY coat of arms? Think of it as your personal brand, emblazoned with symbols and colors that scream, "This is me!" Whether you're all about the lion's courage, the unicorn's mystique, or you're just in it for the laughs with a rubber chicken in the center, a coat of arms is a vibrant mosaic of your quirks, culture, and inner knight – or jester, we don't judge.
So grab your imaginary lance, don your thinking cap of armor, and let's joust through the history and merriment of crafting a coat of arms that's uniquely yours. Fair warning: if you end up liking it too much, we fully expect to see it painted on your car by next week. Who's with us?
Crafting Your Heraldic Identity
When we think about crafting our heraldic identity, it's not just about slapping together some random symbols on a shield. Oh no, my fellow knights in shining armor, we are creating a one-of-a-kind emblem that screams "This is who we are!" and possibly "Don't mess with us!" or "Would you like to see our rose garden?" It's our chance to show off our creativity, history, and taste in mythical creatures.
Shield and Escutcheon Essentials
Now, let's talk about our shield, the big cheese of the coat of arms. It's not just a fancy frisbee to chuck at our enemies—though that could be fun—it's the canvas for our heraldic design. The shield's shape, known as the escutcheon, isn't just for show; it represents the core of who we are. We have a smorgasbord of shapes to choose from, each with its own backstory and flair. The colors? Oh, we're not just talking your average crayon box. We have tinctures like the nobility-packed gold and the sleek, trustworthy silver, plus a kaleidoscope of other hues, each brimming with meaning. And don't get us started on divisions and patterns—from chevron divides to polka dots of valor, our shield is our personal billboard.
Choosing Your Accoutrements
Accoutrements—fancy word, right? These are the bells and whistles, the bling that adorns our shield. Think of them as the accessories that no self-respecting knight would be caught without. So, what's dangling from our armor? We've got the helm, aka the helmet, sitting proud atop the shield, a silent nod to the brain beneath the metal. Then the crest—that's like the cherry on the sundae, the final pièce de résistance that towers over the helm. The mantling? That's the flowy, cape-like stuff that looks like a victoriously swirling tornado framing our shield. Wreaths, crowns, or the more casual coronet? They're like the tie or hat that says, "Yes, we've arrived, and we brought our family legacy with us." And let's not forget the ever-so-humble ribbon waving beneath, whispering our cryptic family motto.
Symbolic Significance and Creatures
Animals, symbols, plants—this is where our creativity goes wild, literally. Our charges, or the symbols within our shield, can be anything from daring lions to wisdom-dropping owls. Each animal has its own tale to tell, representing bravery, cunning, or that one time we outsmarted a squirrel. And those aren't just any old symbols; they're narrating our past, our dreams, and our quirky love for hearts, stars, or that time we got lost in the forest and were adopted by flowers and plants. Remember, each creature, each motto, each teeny tiny star or oversized heart is a glittering piece of the majestic puzzle that is us. And unlike those stale family photos, these won't fade—they'll shine on, telling our tale in shimmering gold and silver for eternity... or until dragons become a thing again.
The Regal Trimmings
When it comes to designing your own coat of arms, it's not just a shield you're slapping together—it's a smorgasbord of history, honor, and a dash of sass from your family's salad days. Let's get into the royal razzle-dazzle that makes your shield truly shine.
Supporting Cast: The Role of Supporters
On either side of your shield, imagine a couple of stoic lions or maybe some fierce griffins. Got it? These are your supporters, trusty sidekicks that are more than just eye candy. They're symbolic bodyguards chosen for their might and grit, representing the values and achievements that our ancestors fist-pumped about - like showing off trophies at medieval tournaments, but with more flair.
Banner, Motto, and Compartment
Now, unfurl that banner high! It's not a medieval Facebook status, but it might as well be, as it broadcasts our motto—the catchphrase that's been the rallying cry through our murky and majestic past. Tucked neatly under our shield is the compartment, a patch of earth that plants our feet in the history books with representations of landscapes or seascapes, depending on whether our forefathers were more knights on horseback or admirals conquering the waves.
Heraldry Across the Pond
Let's hop across the UK, where the heritage hits hard. In England, it's the College of Arms dishing out the heraldic bling, while in Scotland, the Lord Lyon presides over his court with all the pomp and circumstance of a royal wedding. Here, the symbolism steeped in the cross and the unicorn speaks of a legacy that's as rich as it is regal, woven into the very fabric of nobility and the great halls where they plotted their next power move.
