So you’ve stumbled across what looks like your family crest online. Maybe it’s on a genealogy site, a mug, or buried in a distant cousin’s Facebook album. Pretty cool, right?
But before you rush to tattoo it on your arm or hang a framed copy over the fireplace, take a breath.
Because here’s the thing: those symbols actually mean something. And there’s a right (and wildly fun) way to go from “random image” to a meaningful, display-worthy family crest.
What Even Is a Family Crest?
A family crest (also often called a coat of arms) is part of heraldry, a system of symbols, colors, and arrangements used to represent families often tied to noble roots, regional history, or professions.
The crest you found may look cool, but if you want to make sense of it or even recreate it accurately, you’ve got to know what each part means!
And no, not everything you see in the image is historically significant. That’s where we come in (but more on that later 😉).
Is It Really Your Family Crest?
Most people make these common mistakes when they “find” their family crest online. Don’t be that person. Just because a crest pops up next to your last name doesn’t mean it’s your crest.
Here’s why:
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Multiple unrelated families might have the same last name but completely different crests.
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Multiple unrelated families might have the same crest, like the Polish Clans!
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Some websites just make up random shield designs with no historical source or heraldic experts! And while that’s totally fine if you just want a crest for fun or decoration, it’s a different story when you’re after accuracy. Knowing which symbols truly belonged to your ancestors can take your family history research to a whole new level!
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Even if you do find the right crest, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t match what’s in every source. Families tweaked designs over the years, either by migration, new titles, marriage, or just adapting to the latest artistic trends!
In finding your family crest, the only way to know for sure is through heraldic and genealogical research. That means tracing your family tree and finding out whether someone in your line has a coat of arms.
Understanding your family’s surname origins, locations, and even professions can help with this step.
Not sure where to start? That’s the kind of rabbit hole our team at CrestandArms.com loves to dive into!
What to Do After Finding Your Family Crest
Great! If you've found what you believe is your family crest, maybe with decent historical sources to back it up, there’s a lot you can do next.
1. Double-Check the Crest with Deeper Family Research
Now it’s time to make sure it actually belongs to your family.
Use that crest as a starting point to dig deeper into your roots:
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Find out who in your family the coat of arms was originally granted to
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Research your family’s migration patterns or places of origin
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Look through historical archives, parish records, or immigration documents
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Trace how your surname evolved across generations (Spoiler: spelling changes and hard-of-hearing record keepers were more common than you’d think
The more context you uncover, the easier it is to confirm whether the crest you found is truly part of your lineage (or just a digital lookalike).
2. Understand the Meaning Behind the Symbols
Every element on a real coat of arms has significance:
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Colors (like gold for generosity or red for courage)
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Charges (symbols like animals, weapons, plants, stars)
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Arrangements (how they’re positioned on the shield)
And here’s something extra cool: many of those symbols were carefully chosen to reflect symbols like a family’s occupation, region, or reputation. For example, a blacksmith might have an anvil, a coastal family might have a fish, and a knight might have a sword.
Did you know? The shield and the part above the helmet (called the crest) are the most historically significant parts. Other things like the shield’s shape, the mantling (decorative flourishes), and the helmet style are purely aesthetic. Think of them as the picture frame that completes the artwork!
It’s like decoding a secret message from your ancestors. Our heraldic experts can help interpret those elements and explain what they mean in heraldry.
3. Get a Digitally Recreated Version (That’s Actually Accurate)
A fuzzy JPEG from 1998 won’t cut it if you want to print your crest on anything beyond a fridge magnet.
You need a family crest that is:
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Based on the official heraldic elements
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Clean, high-resolution, and suitable for printing
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Delivered digitally so you can use them however you want
Get a digital copy of your family crest here.
What Can You Do with Your Family Crest?
So glad you asked.
A lot of people think crests are only for history books and castles. Not true.
Your family crest can become a daily reminder of your roots, a stunning piece of art for your home, or even a conversation starter at your next dinner party.
Here are a few fun ideas:
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Display it as wall art
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Print it on stationery or wax seals
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Use it in wedding décor
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Add it to your family tree
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Infuse your personal brand or business with heritage by incorporating family crest symbols
Check out this guide for more ideas: How to Display Your Family Crest at Home or in Gifts
What to Do If Your Family Doesn’t Have a Crest
Good news: you can create one!
Many families today are making their own coats of arms to reflect their values, interests, and heritage. It's a meaningful way to start a new tradition.
And no, it doesn’t have to be medieval or stuffy. It can be modern, minimalist, or colorful. Whatever feels like you.
Even towns and cities around the world have their own coats of arms, used as symbols of identity and pride. Why shouldn’t your family have the same?
Make the Most of Your Family Crest
Finding your family crest is just the beginning. It can lead to fun discoveries, deeper family connections, and a renewed sense of identity.
So… ready to do something meaningful with it? Explore your history, celebrate your roots, and bring your crest to life!
Image Credits:
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Municipal Art Collection at the Accursio Palace, Bologna, via Wikimedia Commons, source
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Coat of arms, Hungarian royal coat of arms via Pixabay, source
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Coat of arms of Cogswell family via Wikimedia Commons, source
