What Happens to a Coat of Arms When Two Families Merge

Beyond symbols of lineage and status, heraldry represents family history, values, and, sometimes, love. 

When two families unite through marriage, their coats of arms often merge in creative and meaningful ways. But what exactly happens to a coat of arms when two families come together?

The Basics of Merging Coats of Arms

When families married, heraldry provided a visual story of this union through coats of arms.

One of the most common practices in merging arms is impalement. 

Despite its dramatic-sounding name, impalement simply means splitting a shield down the middle to display the arms of both families.

• Dexter (left side of the shield from the viewer’s perspective): Typically displays the husband’s coat of arms.

• Sinister (right side of the shield): Holds the wife’s family arms.

For example, if Lord Gerald of Griffinwood married Lady Eliza of Riverthorn (totally made-up names), their marital shield would show his griffins on the left and her thorny roses on the right. 

It’s essentially the medieval equivalent of updating your relationship status, only much more ornate and symbolic!

 

Ways to Combine Family Crests

There are several methods families have historically used to merge coats of arms, each with its own rules and traditions.

And if you're trying to find your family crest and understand how it connects to others through marriage, these rules are a great starting point.

 

1. Impalement 

Impalement is the most common method. The shield is divided vertically, placing each family’s crest on its respective side. Both families remain visually equal. This style is balanced, elegant, and keeps both families’ symbols intact. It is still widely used today in formal heraldry for married couples.

2. Escutcheon of Pretence

When a woman has no brothers to carry on her family name, she is known as a heraldic heiress. In these cases, her family’s arms are placed on a smaller shield in the center of her husband’s shield, rather than split side by side. 

This means:

• The husband’s full coat remains the main shield

• The wife’s arms are placed in the center

• Their children inherit both

3. Dimidiation

Before impalement became standard, some families practiced dimidiation, where half of one coat of arms was fused with half of the other. While creative, this often produced confusing results, like a lion’s head merging awkwardly with the tail of a ship. 

Because it caused confusion, dimidiation eventually fell out of use. Rarely used, but if you’re digging through old records to find your family crest, you may encounter it.

4. Quartering (For Children of a Union)

When children inherit arms from both parents, heraldry uses quartering. The shield is divided into four (or more) sections.

Example arrangement:

• 1st quarter: Father’s arms

• 2nd quarter: Mother’s arms

• Additional quarters: Other inherited lineages
  

Quartering is extremely common in noble and royal families with centuries of inherited arms.

Women and Heraldry

• Married women display their husband’s arms in a shield, also without trappings.

• Widows continue to bear their married arms, but in a lozenge (diamond) format.
  
  

Realistic Examples of Combined Family Crests

Here are some examples to illustrate how two (or more) families’ arms might be combined, using actual heraldic techniques:

1. Royal Saxe-Meiningen + United Kingdom
   

   

Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (Queen Adelaide) impaled her father’s arms (Saxe-Meiningen) with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. 

How it’s combined: Her husband’s royal arms are on the dexter (heraldic left) side, and her paternal (Saxe-Meiningen) arms are on the sinister side. This is classic impalement.

2. Earl + Heiress’ Family (Pretence)
   

   

In some historical cases, when a man marries a heraldic heiress, he places her arms on a small shield (an escutcheon of pretence) in the center of his own shield.

How it’s combined: Rather than a split shield, the husband’s full coat remains the main design, and the wife’s arms sit in a smaller inset shield. This signals that their children will inherit her family legacy.

3. Cinque Ports – Dimidiated Arms
   

 

 

The Cinque Ports (a historic group of coastal towns) used dimidiation in their heraldry. 

How it’s combined: The dexter half of one set of arms (for example, lions) is joined with the sinister half of another (such as a ship). This sometimes made strange designs (a lion’s head + a ship’s stern), which is partly why the practice eventually gave way to impalement.

4. Quartering for Heirs
   

   

Quartering is very common when children inherit arms from both parents, especially if there's an heiress involved. 

How it’s combined: The shield is divided into four (or more) sections. Each quarter holds a different family’s coat: e.g., father’s arms in one quarter, mother’s in another, or even more ancient family arms if there are multiple inheritances.

How to Create Your Own Family Coat of Arms

Want to design your own coat of arms for your family or a personal project? You don’t need to be a medieval noble to do it! 

Use our free coat of arms maker to create a unique shield that tells your story and merges multiple family histories into one design.

1. Choose Your Symbols: Pick animals, objects, and patterns that represent your family’s values, personality, or history. Want a lion for courage, a tree for strength, or a book for wisdom? Go wild!
   

2. Select Colors: Heraldic colors have symbolic meanings. Gold represents generosity, blue is for loyalty, red is for courage, and each choice adds a layer of story to your shield.
   

3. Combine Crests: If you’re merging families, this is the fun part! Use impalement (split the shield in half) or an escutcheon of pretence (place a smaller shield in the center) to bring multiple lineages together in one cohesive design. It’s a way to celebrate both heritages in a single, meaningful emblem.
   

4. Download and Share: Once your design is ready, download it as a digital image to share with family, use in projects, decor, or even print as a keepsake.

Start designing your coat of arms for free here: Free Coat of Arms Maker by Crest&Arms

The Beauty of Merged Coats of Arms

When two families merge, their histories, values, and symbols combine in a way that honors both lineages. Whether through impalement, an escutcheon of pretence, or modern adaptations, heraldry continues to celebrate connection, legacy, and love.

By understanding these traditions, you can appreciate the artistry and thought behind every shield and maybe even design one of your own. Whether you’re honoring ancestors,  or celebrating a modern union, merging coats of arms is a beautiful way to tell a family story that spans generations.

 

 

 

Image Credits:

arms of Visconti via Wikimedia commons, source

Jan van Wassenaar (1483–1523) and Josina van Egmond via Wikimedia commons, source

Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen's arms via Wikimedia commons, source

Cinque Ports flag via Wikimedia commons, source

Coats of Arms of Lamoral, Earl of Egmont via Wikimedia commons, source

The royal arms of England under the House of Stuart via Wikimedia commons, source