Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

How to Find French Coats of Arms

I have written often about fake "family coats of arms" that are sold by shady vendors. In fact, there is no such thing as a "family coat of arms" in the English speaking world. I believe the same is true in most European countries although I have focused my articles mostly on the English-speaking countries for one simple reason: I can read their rules and regulations. I have a tougher time with other languages so I am reluctant to write about the procedures in other countries.

Now Anne Morddel has written an interesting article (in English) about coats of arms in France. What I really like is that she tells how to check the validity of French coats of arms, using a number of resources available in the Cabinet des Titres that has been microfilmed and can be viewed at the Richelieu building at Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris.

Genealogy Tattoos

Are you proud of your ancestry? Some folks apparently are so proud they had their family coats of arms tattooed on their bodies.

You can see some examples of that at http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=genealogy+tattoos.

Pssst! Do you think we should let them know there is no such thing as family coats of arms in most countries?

Another Instance of Bogus "Family Coats of Arms"

I had to laugh. This morning I received an email message from a company asking me to review their new iPhone app for "Irish Family History." Normally, I would be glad to do so; but, as I read the remainder of the email message, I changed my mind. It appears this app displays so-called family information that contains fairy tales.

The press release states "... users can read about the history of their family, the meaning behind their name, their original and translated family mottos, locate their family’s origin on the map and view their family’s coat of arms."

Excuse me? Family coat of arms? Where did you get that rubbish?

Coats of arms are part of heraldry, the study of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol. In the Republic of Ireland, all heraldry, including the use and display of coats of arms, is defined by the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland. The College of Arms performs the same function in Northern Ireland (see http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/). It was founded by King Richard III in 1484.

Donald Trump Awarded Scottish Coat of Arms

Yes, Americans can be awarded coats of arms. However, in Donald Trump's case, it required a four year battle to earn the insignia.

Trump has won the right to use a coat of arms to advertise his Scottish golf resort. Trump is known for proudly speaking of Scottish roots, often referring to his Lewis-born mother.

You can read more in the Deadline News at http://goo.gl/NBh86 and at the Mail Online at http://goo.gl/I2tXH.

Reminder: You are never allowed to claim a coat of arms as your own unless you have been awarded official (written) permission to do so. Just ask Donald.

Oldest Coat of Arms Used in the Americas

While most genealogists in North America understand there's no such thing as a family coat of arms, many of us are not as aware of the traditions involving coats of arms for governments, various government agencies, and even corporations. That would be especially true for coats of arms issued 500 years ago and still in use today.

Puerto Rico's Coat of Arms was granted by the Spanish Crown in 1511, which makes it the oldest currently used in the Americas.

Kate Middleton's Coat of Arms

Kate Middleton's family has had a coat of arms designed, which will be featured on the souvenir royal wedding programme. Her father Michael commissioned the heraldic design to mark his daughter's marriage to Prince William on 29 April. It features three acorn sprigs, one for each of the Middletons' children: an idea Miss Middleton suggested.

An video on the BBC web site shows the new coat of arms as Thomas Woodcock, Garter Principal King of Arms, explains the meaning of the various items shown. You can see the video at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13127145

Elizabeth Roads becomes First Woman in UK to be Appointed a Herald

A centuries-old institution that oversees Scottish heraldry and coats of arms has appointed its first woman to a leading role. Elizabeth Roads, 59, from Edinburgh, is the first female herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon following a 35-year career at the official heraldry office for Scotland.

She is the first woman in the UK to hold the role of herald. The equivalent body in England - the College of Arms - has never had a female in the post. Roads started work at the court in 1975.

The Myth of Family Coats of Arms

The holiday gift giving season will be here soon and what better personal gift to give than something with the recipient's family coat of arms? I'd suggest that isn't such a great gift. You'd be lying.

Lots of gullible people purchase various trinkets that display the "family coat of arms" without realizing there is no such thing. Coats of arms? Yes. But "family?" No. There is no such thing as a family coat of arms.

National Heraldic Register Proposed in Ireland

A Bill has been introduced in Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) by Senator Alex White that aims to establish a sound legislative basis for all Grants of Arms made by the Chief Heralds of Ireland from 1943 and to provide for related matters. The National Library last year stopped the Office of the Chief Herald from making any further awards of arms due to concerns that it had no legal powers to do so. (See my earlier article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/10/irish-coats-of-.html.)

Your Family Coat of Arms and Other Myths

Many people, mostly Americans, believe that every family was once issued a coat of arms and then everyone born with that family name automatically gets to use the same coat of arms. If you believe that, it is time to correct the myth.

NOTE: There is an exception. I am told that Samurai families in Japan do have family coats of arms although they do not resemble British or European coats of arms. In any case, if your ancestry is 100% Japanese Samurai, the rest of this article does not apply to you.

To begin with, coats of arms are never issued to families; they are issued to individuals. Coats of arms are issued by heralds and there are different heralds in each country in the United Kingdom and in Europe. A coat of arms is granted by the King of Arms in England and in Ireland, while the court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms grants that right in Scotland.

Irish Coats of Arms may be Worthless

The legality of all Irish coats of arms issued in the past 60+ years is now in doubt. In what has been described as the new 'arms crisis', the National Library has stopped the Office of the Chief Herald from making any further awards due to concerns that it had no legal powers to do so.

The Genealogical Society of Ireland said it was a very embarrassing situation which had been allowed to develop over a long period of time.

The College of Arms

On my recent trip to London, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my hotel was only a few steps from the College of Arms on Queen Victoria Street. This is the organization that grants coats of arms to individuals in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth Countries and to their descendants. I snapped a few pictures of the building, even though the place was closed on the Sunday I was there.

A Tattoo of Your Family Coat of Arms

I recently received an e-mail from someone who has the same last name as my own. She had searched the web and found that I often write about genealogy and occasionally about coats of arms and crests. She sent me an e-mail that said (in part), "I am looking for a copy of the Eastman family crest because my son would like to have one."

Confederate Coats of Arms

I have written several times about coats of arms, properly called heraldry. Many people seem to think that each family has a coat of arms issued for use by all people bearing the same last name. Of course, that's not true.

Now a new variation has appeared: Confederate Coats of Arms. An online site has a mission statement "... to advance Dixie culture through knowledge, heraldry artwork and…"

Gee, I didn't even know that the Confederacy issued coats of arms!

Want to Buy Your Family's Coat of Arms?

Many people like to purchase Christmas gifts that are "personal." What can be more personal than one's name? I bet that thousands of people will give presents this year that depict a family coat of arms printed on paper, suitable for framing. They also may give coats of arms on t-shirts, sweatshirts, golf jerseys, stationery, coffee mugs, or even key chains. There is only one problem: almost all of them are bogus!

My Least Favorite Genealogy Web Site

This week I decided to publish a "reprint" of an article that I wrote several years ago. The reason that I am publishing it again is because of all the e-mails I have been receiving lately on this topic.