- Darusha’s Network » read post
-
Have You Ever Wondered about Your Family Crest?
- July 11th, 2009
The history of family crests is a long and complicated one. Rooted in heraldry, or the medieval creation and artistic rendering of coats of arms according to family, tribe, clan or dynasty, the development of crests was a global phenomenon. While the crests of Great Britain are most often recognized today, most major societies employed a variation of this practice. Beginning in the 6th century, Greek texts mention identifying marks on shields and helmets of different groups in battle. Heraldry began with strong ties to war and armor because of the difficulty of recognizing the loyalty of soldiers in battle. Even William the Conqueror faced this difficulty, having to remove his helmet so his soldiers would believe that he was still alive. The use of crests was not limited to Europe, however, with the five-clawed dragon of the Chinese and the chrysanthemum of the Japanese Emperor; the red pellets of the Medici of Florence can be found all over Italy and Europe.
The recognizable family crest emerged in the 12th century in Europe. An official coat of arms contains four parts: the motto (words only), the crest (appears on the helmet), the shield elements (on shield), and the supporters (animals, birds, or people on either side of the shield). There are several other optional additions which help make each crest unique and recognizable. If you are wondering if your ancestors or family have a crest, there are several websites that offer free searches. If the crest exists in their database, it will display an image of it as well as the origin and history when available. It also allows you to purchase items with your crest printed on them.
