Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Az. two lions pass. or”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Emer family of Ireland.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Az. two lions pass. or”
The Emer arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
The family name Emer has roots that stretch back into the complex history of seventeenth-century Ireland. By the year 1645, records confirm that members of the family were already established in Dublin, a city that served as a major center for trade and political activity during a time of great upheaval. The name itself is often associated with ancient Gaelic origins, potentially linked to the legendary figure Emer from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, who was known for her wisdom and eloquence. Families living in Dublin during the mid-1600s were often part of a diverse urban population that included merchants, craftspeople, and those navigating the shifting power structures of the era. While the family name Emer remains relatively rare, its presence in the capital city during this formative period suggests that these early ancestors were well-integrated into the social and economic life of Ireland at a time when the country was undergoing significant transformation.
Derived from the Old Irish word for swift or ready.
