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The Romance of Heraldry
Heraldry evolved in the 12th Century, coinciding with the development of armor, around the time of the Crusades. In battle, a knight clad in armor, was almost unrecognizable, hence the need for distinguishable features, a new method of recognition. This resulted in distinctive insignia being painted on the shield and embodied on the surcoat. The insignia thus adopted soon became guarded objects of family pride. A son would inherit his father’s markings and carry them into battle with pride. After the battle, the knight would return to his castle and hang his shield on the wall.
Which Coat of Arms is Correct?
Some names have one or more Coats of Arms. Unless specified at time of ordering, we attempt to locate the oldest Coat of Arms of record that would be most representative of all the family.
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