You’ve found your person, the love of your life. The two of you finish each other’s sandwiches, share matching mugs, and maybe even adopt a dog named Sir Barksalot. So, now what?
Why not seal the deal with a timeless symbol of your union? Maybe a combined family crest?
If you're thinking, "Wait, people still do that?" The answer is yes, and it's more romantic than ever.
Whether you're newly married, celebrating an anniversary, or just deeply obsessed with each other (in the best way), combining your family crests can be a beautiful way to honor your shared legacy.
But before we dive into designing your very own crest, let’s take a peek back in time.
A Very Romantic History Lesson
Back in the day (like medieval noble families and castles kind of ‘back in the day’), heraldry was serious business. Coats of arms told stories: family history, values, status, and yes, even love.
One popular practice among noble families was impalement. No, not the spooky kind. This was all about combining two coats of arms on one shield to show a marriage between two families. Think of it as the medieval version of changing your Facebook status to “married,” but with heraldic animals and other symbols involved.
Here’s how it worked:
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The left side of the shield (called dexter, which is the viewer’s left) displayed the husband’s coat of arms.
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The right side (called sinister, which is the viewer’s right) held the wife’s family arms.
So if Lord Gerald of Griffinwood married Lady Eliza of Riverthorn, their new marital shield would be split down the middle. Meaning, his griffins on the left, her thorny roses on the right.
Famous Couples Who Heralded Their Love
Combined coats helped historians, architects, and genealogists track who lived where, who built what, and who married whom.
For example:
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Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII famously had impaled arms crafted to symbolize their marriage. (Before the whole… unfortunate ending.)
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Mary, Queen of Scots, had arms that reflected her union with Francis II of France.
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Even Richard II combined his own arms with those of St. Edward the Confessor in a “mystical union,” showing his deep devotion to the saint. (Yes, that was a thing called quasi-marriage.)
These couple family crests were declarations of alliance, shared identity, or (if the matchmaking was successful) love.
But What About Today?
You're probably not a medieval lord, but the idea of combining crests isn’t stuck in the past.
It’s quietly making a comeback among couples who love the idea of tradition with a modern twist.
Some are doing it to honor family history. Others simply love the symbolism! Two distinct lives coming together in one couple family crest design. It’s a creative way to celebrate not just where you each come from, but where you’re headed together.
Today, artists and heraldic designers are reimagining this tradition in ways that feel fresh, meaningful, and deeply personal. From custom prints to digital emblems, couples are finding all sorts of beautiful ways to represent their shared stories.
(And yes, it looks great hanging above your wedding photo.)
How Crest Combining Works
There are a few ways to blend family crests.
1. Impalement: The Classic Split
This is the go-to style. As mentioned, you divide the shield straight down the middle. One partner’s arms go on the left, the other on the right. It’s balanced, beautiful, and rich with tradition.
2. Escutcheon of Pretence: The Heiress Exception
If one of your female ancestors had no brothers to carry on the family crest, she was considered a “heraldic heiress.” Her family’s arms would have been placed in a smaller shield at the center of her husband’s. That showed her family’s legacy would continue through their children.
3. Dimidiation
Before impalement became the standard, some families tried a method called dimidiation, where one half of a coat of arms was sliced and fused with the other. It might sound creative, but the results were often... strange. Think of a lion’s head with the back end of a ship. Confusing, right?
Because of this, dimidiation was eventually dropped. People preferred impalement, which kept each family’s crest intact and was much easier to recognize. It was clearer, cleaner, and way less likely to end up looking like a medieval jigsaw puzzle.
Same-Sex Couples and Heraldry
Modern heraldry has grown with the times. In 2014, the College of Arms confirmed that same-sex married couples can impale their coats of arms, too.
Here’s how it works:
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Each partner displays their own arms on the left (dexter) side, with their partner’s on the right (sinister).
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Their partner’s version flips the sides. That way, each person’s crest gives them the place of honor in their own version.
In short: love is love, and heraldry knows it.
How a Modern Couple’s Crest Tells Your Story
A modern crest can blend tradition with the symbols that matter most to you as a couple.
Some pairs keep things classic, drawing on traditional heraldic elements that reflect their family names or regions of origin. Others get creative by adding details that represent shared values, careers, or even personal milestones.
Here are a few symbols couples often include:
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Oak trees for strength and deep roots
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Knots or rings to represent unity and a lasting connection
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Castles, cottages, or gates for home, safety, and new beginnings
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Animals or mythical beasts that reflect shared traits or family stories
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Compasses, globes, or stars for a life of adventure or travel
The result becomes a shared modern emblem. Something future generations can look at and understand as part of your story!
To start creating your own, the first step is simple: find your family crest. Once you have that foundation, you can blend both histories into one meaningful design.
Love and Legacy
Combining crests isn’t just for royals anymore. It’s for anyone who believes in honoring their roots while building something new. Whether you’re romantic, sentimental, or just really into medieval aesthetics, a couple’s crest is a meaningful way to say, “This is us. And we’re in it for the long haul.”
Image credits:
Coat of arms in Edinburgh via Wikimedia Commons, source
Schüssel mit Allianzwappen Crèvecoeur und Auxy via Wikimedia Commons, source
Coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs via Wikimedia Commons, source
Coat of Arms of Queen Anne Boleyn via Wikimedia Commons, source
Mary Stuart's Arms as Queen of the Scots and Queen Dowager of France via Wikimedia Commons, source