Have you ever heard of a family crest? It’s a symbol that represents a family’s historic identity, often in the form of a unique emblem that has been passed down from generation to generation. Family crests are often associated with nobility and hold significant meaning.
In this post we will explore what a family crest is, how you can find yours.
So, what is a Family Crest?
A family crest, otherwise known as a coat of arms, is a symbol that represents a family’s historic identity. Sounds cool, right? It typically includes an emblem consisting of several markers such as shields, helmets, crests, and mottos, all of which have a specific meaning to the family.
The shield, for example, represents the family’s defensive capabilities, while the helmet represents their readiness for battle. The crest, which sits on top of the helmet, symbolizes the family’s rank or social statsus, while the motto represents their values or beliefs.
The origin of family crests can be traced back to medieval times (yep, that far back), where knights and warriors used them to distinguish themselves in wars and battles.
Over time, however, the use of family crests spread beyond the battlefield and became a symbol of a family’s heritage. Today, family crests are often displayed on flags, banners, mugs, letters and other items to represent a family’s identity. You’ve probably seen quite a few family crests in your lifetime without even knowing.
How Can You Find Your Family Crest?
Finding your family crest is an adventure and there are several ways to go about it.
First, you need to research your family’s history and lineage. Look for any information about your ancestors, including their names, professions, and where they lived. If you still have grandparents or great-grandparents, ask them about any old documents they may have on the family.
Another way to find your family crest is to hire a professional genealogist. They have the expertise and resources to trace your family’s history and identify your family crest.
Lastly, you can use a serivice like crestsandarms.com, that employs researchers that are skilled in tracing and finding your family’s history to subsequently identify your family’s coat of arms. Typically, they will also recreate your family crest by hand-sketching or via digital illustration. This ensures that your family crest is authentic and accurate, providing you with a unique and meaningful symbol that represents your family’s history and identity.
While using a service like crestsandarms.com may be more expensive than other options, it can provide you with a high-quality and detailed result that you can be proud to display. It can also be a great way to learn more about your family’s history and heritage, providing you with a deeper understanding of your family’s roots and legacy.
Once you have identified your family crest, you can display it on various items such as flags, letterheads, jewelry, clothing, or home decor to show your family pride.
What to do with the family crest?
One really cool way to use your family crest is to create a full family tree. I mean, the groundwork is already done, you’re just building onto it. You can include your family crest as a prominent feature and use it to highlight the many different branches of your family. This is a great way to share your family’s history with future generations and keep it well documented.
Another way to use your family crest is to create personalized gifts for other family members. It’s a very cool and personal gift for anyone in your family tree and you can print the crest on mugs, rugs, certificates, etc.
Last words.
A family crest is a symbol that represents a family’s history and identity. It’s a unique design that has been passed down through generations, often associated with nobility.
Finding your family crest can be a great way to learn more about the history of your family.
