How to Find Out If Your Family Ever Had a Coat of Arms

How to Find Out If Your Family Ever Had a Coat of Arms

Somewhere in a dusty old book or on a castle wall, a coat of arms might be waiting to tell your family’s story. (Cue dramatic pause as you picture yourself riding into battle with your crest stitched on your cape).

Well, finding your family crest is not as tricky as it seems. It does take a little detective work, but the payoff is big. 


Step 1: Start at Home (Yes, Really)

Sometimes the best way to begin is by simply interviewing your parents or grandparents. Families often pass down stories, documents, or even a dusty old book with sketches of coats of arms. Confession: sometimes these sketches look like doodles from someone bored in church, but still, they’re clues.

Even if you don’t find an actual coat of arms, you might uncover a lead, like a maiden name, a family region, or even a story about an ancestor who served in a royal court. These breadcrumbs matter.

Step 2: Genealogy Websites (Your Digital Treasure Map)

Now that you have a few family details, head to genealogy websites. Platforms like MyHeritage and Ancestry, aside from helping you build your family tree, also have massive databases filled with surnames, birth places, and birthdates.

Once you’ve gathered some basic family info, genealogy websites like these two can be a huge help, but remember, they’re mainly tools to guide you toward the right branch of your family. 

For example, let’s say you’re researching the surname Spencer. You might stumble upon the famous “Le Despenser” arms, which later evolved into Spencer, brought about by name changes, spelling variations, or immigration. 

Think of these sites as hints on a treasure map: they don’t always give you the prize immediately, but they steer you toward where it’s hidden.

Step 3: Contact the Heraldic Experts

If you’re ready to level up, reach out to the College of Arms (UK), the Court of Lord Lyon (Scotland), or the Office of the Chief Herald (Ireland). They’re the official record keepers of heraldry.

Here’s how it works: 

  • You write to the “Officer in Waiting”. 

  • Give them as much info as you have (names, dates, locations, basically, all the detective work you did in steps 1 and 2). 

  • They can search pedigrees, genealogies, and old records to see if your ancestors had coats of arms. 

Pro tip: Spellings of family names do change over time. So don’t be surprised if your name appears in a slightly different form.

Step 4: Do Some Old-School Sleuthing

If you want to go deeper, dig into:

  • Church records (births, marriages, burials)

  • Land deeds (because land ownership is often tied to nobility)

  • Local archives in towns or regions where your family lived

Let’s say you find a crest featuring an eagle. In German heraldry, the eagle is a symbol of imperial authority, famously associated with the Holy Roman Empire.  Spotting either of these on a coat of arms can give you clues about your ancestors’ roots and the regions they might have come from.

Step 5: Accept That Surprises Happen

When digging into family crests, don’t be shocked if you hit unexpected twists. Maybe your family name shows up linked to a completely different country. (Like families from Occitannia in Southern France who later moved to Romania in the 1700s.) Or maybe you discover your ancestors had royal connections - Insert jaw drop here.

Even if your direct line didn’t hold a coat of arms, you might discover other branches of your surname that did. This is still valuable, as it helps you understand your heritage and narrows your search.

Step 6: Understand That Your Family Crest May Look Different Online

Found a crest online… then another… and another? Not all family crests found online are accurate. Real coats of arms come from historical records called blazons, detailing exact colors, symbols, and arrangements. Many online images are just artistic versions.

Plus, surnames often have multiple branches, regional twists, or spelling variations—meaning the same name can have different authentic crests. Treat online family crest designs as clues for your personal search of a coat of arms. 

Step 6: Bring It All Together

So, after hours of clicking through genealogy sites, reading old documents, and possibly staring at microfilm until your eyes cross (yes, that’s still a thing), you’ve got some clues. 

Maybe you’ve found symbols tied to your surname, maybe you’ve confirmed your family once had arms, or maybe you’re still stuck at “almost but not quite.”

This is where we come in.

At Crests and Arms, our heraldic artists can help you take what you’ve discovered, whether it’s a lion, a stripe, or even a family motto, and bring it to life!

We can faithfully recreate your family crest based on authentic heraldic traditions and genealogy or design a version inspired by your family’s history. 

If you're the type who'd rather do it yourself, try our free coat of arms maker tool.

 

Check out how we find your family crest here. 

Tips for a Successful Family Crest Search

Searching for a family coat of arms can feel like looking for buried treasure (without a map). Here’s how to make the hunt easier:

  1. Start with what you know – Gather family documents, letters, and stories. Even small details like a town, occupation, or marriage date can help narrow the search. (Yes, that dusty birth certificate might finally earn its keep.)

  2. Check multiple sources – Genealogy websites, library archives, and heraldic offices can all hold different pieces of the puzzle. Don’t rely on just one source!

  3. Be aware of name changes – Spellings shifted over centuries, and surnames sometimes morphed completely. Keep an open mind when reviewing records.

  4. Look for related clans or branches – Even if your direct line doesn’t have a crest, other branches of the family might. That can help confirm or eliminate possible designs.

  5. Mix digital and analog – Genealogy websites are fantastic, but don’t overlook local archives, library collections, and even old letters or family bibles. Some treasures aren’t online.

  6. Document everything – Keep a log of sources, dates, and findings. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you hit a confusing dead end.

  7. Be patient – Heraldry research can take time. Some records are centuries old, and sometimes the trail goes cold, but every lead you find brings you closer to understanding your family’s story.

Rediscovering Your Family Legacy

Tracing your family’s coat of arms is part research, part mystery, and part creative storytelling. Finding out if your family had a coat of arms could also lead you to uncover migrations, marriages, victories, losses, and maybe even a scandal or two. (Every family has at least one.)



 

 

Image Credits:

 

Back to blog