The Origins of Coats of Arms

Coats of arms, often known as family crests,symbols on their shields and surcoats.
appeared first in England in the early 1300s andIt is difficult to prevent a good idea from being
quickly spread throughout Europe. The 'science' ofcopied and, before long, what we would now call
heraldry was thus established with rules andthe middle classes started to produce their own
terms.coats of arms. The nobility objected and, at their
Coats of arms were displayed on banners,request, the King sent heralds to try to stamp
tabards and, of course, shields. The term coat ofout unauthorized arms and save them for the
arms was derived from the surcoat, a linenprivileged few. It was to no avail though, and a
garment that was worn over the suit of armourcompromise was reached that allowed any
when a nobleman, knight or landowner fought in'gentleman' to display a coat of arms.
battle. 'Surcoat' led to the term 'coat of arms'.Today many people display a coat of arms in
Although coats of arms were very decorative,their family name. The prints and shields are much
they grew out of a need to identify who wassmaller than those displayed in medieval times -
who in battle. Landowners had their own smallbut so are the houses!
private armies and took their followers off toCoats of arms are sometimes referred to as
battle, particularly during the Crusades. When'family crests'. Technically, the family crest is the
battle was joined, the suit of armour completelypart of the arms that is found on top of the
covered the knight who was thus unidentifiablehelmet. You will often find a family motto shown
and risked an early form of 'friendly fire'! So, toas part of the coat of arms. The first motto's
enable their rabbles of followers to identify themappeared around 1660, although not all arms
and rally to their side, the knights stated to paintincluded a motto.