Coats of Arms
Heraldry is about showing people who you are. In England, it started in the late 1100s, when knights began to wear helmets which covered their faces, and they couldn’t be recognised. So they began to paint unique combinations of colours, shapes and animals, called their ‘arms’, on their shields and banners. [English Heritage]
Founded in 1484, the College of Arms is the authority for Coats of Arms in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It keeps a register of arms, pedigrees, and flags, among other things, and is responsible for authorising new coats of arms.
Coats of arms belong to specific individuals and families. Many companies will claim they will provide you with a copy of your coat of arms when in fact they are issuing you with one of a generic family name. As the College of Arms points out on their website, there is no such thing as a coat of arms for a family name.
In Scotland, the authority of all things heraldic coats is the Court of the Lord Lyon. They maintain a register of all Scottish Coats of Arms.
