The Family Crest Myth; What Your Surname Really Means in Heraldry
Souvenir “family crests” sold by surname are usually generic images with no proven link to your ancestors. Real heraldry is tied to specific individuals and supported by records like grants, visitations, wills, and seals. This guide explains the vocabulary, offers a 15-minute verification checklist, and outlines ethical ways to obtain arms of your own.
Read Full Article →What Is The Rietstap’s Armorial General, and Why Heraldic Bucket Shops Use It
Rietstap’s Armorial General is a useful catalog of heraldic blazons, but it does not grant arms or create rights for everyone who shares a surname. This article explains how “found in Rietstap” is often used to imply legitimacy in bucket shop marketing, even when the heraldic claim is unsupported. It also outlines proper practice: using Rietstap as a starting point, then confirming the actual armiger, legal context, and any claimed descent through primary sources.
Read Full Article →Family Crest vs Coat of Arms: Fact and Myth
Many people buy a “family crest” tied to a surname, but heraldry never worked that way. This guide breaks a true coat of arms into eight essential parts, from shield and crest to supporters and motto, and explains what each element actually means. It then clarifies the central rule that arms belong to an individual and the lawful line of descent, with jurisdictional notes on England and Scotland and practical guidance for Americans.
Read Full Article →Why Hiring a Heraldic Artist Beats AI for a Real Coat of Arms
AI can generate images that resemble medieval heraldry, but it cannot reliably follow heraldic grammar, ensure uniqueness, or correct technical errors. This article explains seven reasons a heraldic artist matters, from blazon-driven design and accountable revisions to creating arms that work on seals, engraving, and family inheritance. It also flags common “bucket shop” scams and the warning signs that a design is decorative rather than truly heraldic
Read Full Article →Beyond the Battlefield: Surprising Truths About Heraldry’s Origins
This article challenges romantic myths about heraldry's beginnings and replaces them with evidence from seals, records, and early practice. It clarifies key terms, especially the difference between a coat of arms and a crest, and shows how arms functioned as legal proof of identity and inheritance. It closes with a practical checklist for evaluating modern claims about 'family crests' and supposed ancient arms.
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