Heraldry

Heraldry is a beautiful and fascinating art that is deeply rooted in history and tradition. It is still alive, growing and thriving in modern times. Company logos are a form of heraldry. But true heraldry is a much more elegant and enduring form that has never lost popularity.

The ideal of heraldry is that anyone or any organization that obtains such a graphic identity values a lifestyle that reflects honor, integrity and distinction.

Heraldry is a visible link to ones family, to the past, a present symbol of unity with the traditions of chivalry–being honest, just, brave and honorable in one’s life, and a hope for the extention of those important values for future generations.

Unfortunately, heraldry is a much abused system of art and identity. Well-meaning and well-intentioned people, who do not know important heraldic rules and regulations, have been led astray, because much of what is sold as coats-of-arms for many surnames are illegitimate forms. The reason is, a coat-of-arms is registered only to one person in many nations. The probability of buying a valid coat of arms off of the internet or by mail-order is extremely unlikely if not impossible. As a result, many people are wrongfully displaying someone else’s arms without knowing it.

It is important to understand that to use another’s arms because you found one that has the same surname attached to it, is an act of theft, because 99% of the time, it belongs to another separate family line other than yours. Though there is not necessarily a law against this, it is still an offensive as it would be a violation of someone’s property — an unauthorized use of their symbolic mark of honor. If one assumes a coat-of-arms from off of the internet or buys one from some other source, it may also represents a loss of connection with one’s own ancestors who might have had authentic arms that can be varied somewhat to oneself and then legitimately used. A much better way is to prove your connection to that family, and then obtain your own unique coat-of-arms that reflects that of your ancestors. This new coat of arms could then be properly registered and published by a true and recognized heraldic organization.

In some countries, it is okay to assume arms, or if one is part of a dispossessed royal house to have a family coat of arms. But the point, here is to beware of the false trade. That is beware of “Bucket Shops.” The Association for the Advancement of Heraldry said it well, “Amongst serious heraldic enthusiasts this term [Bucket Shop] is frequently used to describe unscrupulous heraldry-mongers who dispense coats of arms by the bucket load with no regard for the rights of armigers.” (freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~heraldry/aah-faq.html) In other words, they sell bogus, stolen and/or inaccurate armorial bearings.

The following organizations do not provide coats-of-arms that recognize counterfeit or phony titles of nobility, unproven claims to knighthood or give any credibility whatsoever to self-styled or illegitimate orders of knighthood, nor do they recognize unproven claims to nobility or royalty. Hence, we can safely and confidently recommend them as being above board in the most important aspect for us, which is the preservation of what is true, genuine and accurate. There may be other deserving organizations, but the following have proven themselves and are presently known to be reliable and worthy of trust.
Other Heraldic organizations may be added to the list in the future.

a. The American College of Heraldry (non-governmental, but highly respected): www.americancollegeofheraldry.org
b. The College of Arms (England):
www.college-of-arms.gov.uk
c. The Court of the Lord Lyon: www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/ll_homeTemplate.jsp?
pContentID=221&p_applic=CCC&pMenuID=
185&p_servce
d.The Canadian Heraldic Authority:
www.gg.ca/heraldry/progu_e.asp
e. The Chief Herald of Ireland:
www.nli.ie/fr_offi.htm
f. The South African Bureau of Heraldry:
lynette.putter@dac.gov.za
g. The Westphalian Heraldric Society (non-governmental, but highly respected): www.westfalen-heraldik.de
h. Burke’s Peerage & Gentry International Register of Arms (non-governmental, but highly respected): www.armorial-register.com/index.html
i. The Augustan Society (non-governmental, but highly respected): www.augustansociety.org

We applaud and encourage heraldry as an art and a science of particular significant and important to the future of nobility, royalty and monarchy and the ideals it promotes that can encourage people to carry on the time-honored traditions of chivalry. It is hoped that you will involve yourself in this field and rightfully obtain and register your own special coat of arms as a reminder of your ideals.

Please see the wiki article on “Heraldry”