| Heraldry, as a science, is almost totally ignored by | | | | at that date and for around two centuries |
| most of our educated classes in the United | | | | following, every knight adopted such a design, |
| States. Many family history researchers dig into | | | | always in accordance with a certain design plan, to |
| heraldry to some extent, but even they are not | | | | his choosing. But soon after A. D. 1400, in England, |
| as versed in it as they should be. If a genealogist | | | | the right to grant arms was reserved to the |
| is asked to do some research for a client or | | | | Crown, and then a way was adopted to |
| friend, many times the question of "Do I have a | | | | determine or record the names of all persons |
| coat of arms?" will arise. Family history | | | | entitled to a coat-of-arms. |
| researchers should learn some background of | | | | The College of Heralds was to become the |
| heraldry in order to tackle such questions. | | | | repository of heraldry proof, and with |
| The Coat-of-Arms business is very popular and | | | | physicalvisits to the different counties of England, |
| there is a lot of interest among family history | | | | they were to figure out who were the gentlemen |
| researchers in knowing various Coats of Arms. | | | | at that time. While doing this, all grants of arms |
| But there is not a lot of information propagated | | | | were to be recorded, and any one falsely |
| around dealing with the regulations of Coat of | | | | pretending to arms was to be severely punished. |
| Arms. United States laws do not recognize | | | | The plan was successfully carried out in Scotland, |
| heraldic emblems and so they are not regulated in | | | | but in England it failed. Many visitations were |
| the United States, and many have been allowed | | | | made, and many coat-of-arms recorded, but the |
| to do as they please with a traditional family | | | | lack of power to enforce the punishment for |
| coat-of-arms that they falsely claim. | | | | false arms prevented recording a complete or |
| Some authorities might declare that heraldry is an | | | | fully accurate register. Many people just simply |
| essential aid to the student of medieval history | | | | refused to comply. |
| and medieval architecture. As a science, | | | | Even today in England grants are made to families |
| therefore, it should have a certain place in our | | | | of education and wealth based many times on |
| systems of education. But beyond this necessity, | | | | assumptions, but no arms is recognized by |
| there is a more urgent reason for a greater | | | | Heralds unless it is recorded in the Herald's college. |
| familiarity with the subject. Our social relations | | | | Still, family history researchers may recognize any |
| with Europe are important. It is well known abroad | | | | coat-of-arms in use before the sixteenth century, |
| that we have no titles of nobility in the United | | | | even if not recorded, but they should be aware |
| States, and there is, consequently, no inducement | | | | of rules of heraldry. |
| for any American to claim such a distinction. | | | | Officially, the right to use a coat-of-arms by |
| But, in all parts of Europe, there is still in existence | | | | inheritance is dependent entirely upon a well |
| a system of honorary insignia which is supposed | | | | documented pedigree which can be researched by |
| to bestow upon the possessors a certain social | | | | a genealogist. A coat-of-arms, whether obtained |
| position. These decorations are usually | | | | by grant or officially recognized by the Heralds is |
| coat-of-arms, and the rules regulating their use | | | | actually property, with some value. It is inherited |
| are defined by well-known authorities. In fact, | | | | by the descendants of the first true and verified |
| arms are the remaining traces of the old social | | | | possessor only. When someone seeks to establish |
| division of gentle and ignoble birth. Every one who | | | | a claim on the grounds of inheritance, they must |
| uses a coat-of-arms proclaims his involvement | | | | prove descent precisely as they would in claiming |
| among the gentlemen of the land, and is | | | | a piece of land. |
| supposed to be able to furnish satisfactory proof | | | | In the United States there is a common mistake |
| of his right to the position. This right may be | | | | among some novice family history researchers |
| obtained by grant from the sovereign through the | | | | that certain coats-of-arms belong to certain |
| duly constituted officials, a process that is | | | | families. It is supposed that all of the same |
| expensive, or it may be acquired by inheritance. | | | | surname constitute one family, and are hence |
| Inherited arms are usually most prized, and their | | | | entitled to the arms. This is simply not true since |
| value is estimated by their antiquity. Theoretically, | | | | we know matching surnames does not mean |
| however, they are all of equal value. | | | | matching origin. It is very important for family |
| Family history researchers should be aware that | | | | history researchers just starting out to be aware |
| the use of heraldic emblems as a system cannot | | | | of these heraldry issues. |
| be traced much earlier than A. D. 1200. Probably | | | | |