Family Crests Might Not Be What You Think They Are.
Family
crests are not what you might think.a family crest is actually only
one portion of the heraldic display known as a coat-of-arms.It is
analogous to the crest on top of the heads of some birds.
Family crests are not what you might
think. The term “family crest” is sometimes used
interchangeably with the heraldic terms “coat-of-arms” or
“family shield,” but a family crest is actually only one
portion of the heraldic display known as a coat-of-arms. The
crest is usually the uppermost design element in a coat-of-arms,
standing on top of an armor helmet depicted in the coat-of-arms.
It is analogous to the crest on top of the heads of some
birds.Design Elements in Family Crests.Different
animals and other graphic representations may be used in the design
of family crests. A hand or arm holding a weapon, a lion, horse
or dragon, or the wings of an eagle or another bird are often
seen.A wreath (torse) in the family liveries (the principal
colors of the family shield) usually surrounds the crest. In family
crests of nobles such as princes, dukes or earls, a coronet often
takes the place of the torse or sits on top of the torse.Historical
Underpinnings of Family Crests.Heraldic coats-of-arms and
family crests originated in Europe’s early Middle Ages, and they came
into popular use during the feudal period. Medieval knights used
their crests and coats-of-arms to quickly and easily identify
themselves to friends and foes during tournaments and battles.
For example, a knight’s shield and helmet were usually painted with
colorful, vivid design elements from his coat-of-arms, oftentimes the
family crest. A similar system - but with different graphics -
evolved and came into use in feudal Japan.Other than reigning
Queens, women are generally not entitled to bear or use family
crests, and neither are members of the clergy. These exclusions
are an historical artifact that arose because women and clergymen did
not fight in battle or participate in medieval tournaments, and
accordingly they would not have had a helmet on which to display a
family crest. Because the stylized representations which we now
think of as being family crests originated as displays on top of
actual armored helmets, there was no mechanism to ever create a
family crest for a woman or clergyman.
Family Crests Today.By law, in
several countries, only certain specific people (”armigers”)
are technically entitled to bear or use family crests and
coats-of-arms, even today. But family crests are such attractive
designs that they have become popular as wall displays and as part of
the design of some jewelry. Like coats-of-arms,heraldic family
crests relate to a specific historical individual or family name, and
sometimes they symbolically portray that individual’s deeds or events
that occurred during the family history. Typically, very
specific symbolic devices, colors and patterns are combined to create
a heraldic family crest, and each of these components tells part of
the story of the person or family that the crest belongs to.
They are, however, typically highly stylized and it is sometimes very
difficult to accurately decipher the symbolism used in a family
crest. But even when the meaning of a family crest has
longbeen lost in the mists of time, it is a beautiful , highly
decorative design that evokesthe magic of the Middle Ages and
links us to a noble past.
About the author
Diane
Hamments
is a freelance author who writes on various subjects including
crest
.
Tags: clergymen, coat of arms, coats of arms, design element, design elements, early middle ages, family crest, family crests, family shield, feudal japan, feudal period, friends and foes, graphic representations, heraldic coats of arms, heraldic terms, medieval knights, principal colors, torse, vivid design, wings of an eagle
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