How Do I Find My Family Crest Means

Do you know the meaning of your surname? Knowing the meaning of your family'south surname can aid you learn valuable information about your ancestors and often, a family crest is straight linked to the significant of your family's surname.

By typing in your surname into a search box, you tin easily discover your crest and family unit motto which often tin can be translated into sentimental personalised family unit crest gifts for many special occasions including anniversaries and leaving presents for colleagues.

In this article, we'll aid y'all understand what a family's crest is, what the colours and symbols reflect and how knowing your family unit's crest tin can help you larn more about your ancestors.

What is a Family Crest?

Family crests are ofttimes interchangeable with the glaze of arms and shield of arms, which originated in Europe dorsum in the 12^th century.

Coat of arms or crests were originally used by medieval knights in order to distinguish one knight from another. In total armour, the knight was unrecognisable and considering of this, knights began to paint symbols on their shields to assist differentiate them. Often the design was unique to an individual, however it shortly became difficult to keep track of who had what symbol.

It so became the job of 'heralds' to keep track of the different coats of arms. They made sure that every new coats of arms were unique and completely individual, keeping track of who each crest belonged to.

By the 13^thursday century, these became emblems that were adopted by families equally identification marks and yet today, family unit crests are utilised by families and individuals, as a ways of reflecting their history and ancestry.

Not to be dislocated with the glaze of artillery, the crest is part of the overall coat of arms. The crest is an important identifier for what the person who originally received the arms did to receive it and has often been used on its ain equally a smaller family logo over the centuries.

What does my Family unit Crest mean?

A family crest is divided into several parts. Each office tells y'all something well-nigh the individual or family to which it was granted. Everything from the colours, symbols, markings, crest and motto, tell y'all something nigh your ancient family history and their position in society.

Colours

Colours take a special significant, however most heraldic colours have more than one significant. Here are the main meanings behind each colour:

• Gold or Yellow (Or) – Wisdom, generosity and celebrity
• Silver or White (Argent) – Peace, innocence and sincerity
• Red (Gules) – Magnanimity, armed forces strength, warrior and martyr
• Blue (Azure) – Loyalty, truth, strength and faith
• Light-green (Vert) – Affluence, promise, joy and loyalty in love
• Black (Sable) – Wisdom, constancy or grief
• Purple (Purpure) – Temperance, regal, justice and Royal Majesty
• Orange (Tawny/Tenne) – Worthy and ambition
• Maroon (Sanguine/Murray) – Fortitude, patient and victorious

Animals

Unlike animals on a crest besides have different meanings. They could be on the shield itself or on height of the healm and wreath. They would commonly represent positive traits such equally loyalty, resourcefulness or wisdom. Hither are the most mutual animals to feature:

• Bear – Cunning, ferocity and forcefulness in the protection for family unit and friends
• Beaver – Industry and perseverance
• Boar or Boar'southward head – Bravery and will fight to the death. The boar head alone symbolises hospitality
• Buck – Peace and harmony. Will not fight unless provoked
• Bull or Bull's horns – Bravery, valour and generosity. The bull head alone symbolises strength and fortitude
• Butterfly – Soul and spirit
• Camel – Patience, docility and perseverance
• True cat – Courage, vigilance and liberty
• Cockerel – Hero, courage and perseverance
• Crane – Shut parental bail. Vigilance if holding a rock
• Cygnet – Dignity when crowned effectually its neck
• Deer – Peace and harmony. Volition not fight unless provoked
• Dog – Courage, vigilance, and loyalty
• Dolphin – Love, charity, swiftness and diligence
• Pigeon – The Holy Spirit, loving constancy and peace. With an olive branch in its bill, information technology signifies expert tidings
• Duck – Resourcefulness
• Eagle – Strength, bravery and person of noble nature and alertness. Or one who is high-spirited, ingenious and quick-witted
• Eagle displayed with wings spread – Protection
• Eagle (with two heads) – Symbolises conjoining forces
• Elephant – Great strength, wit, happiness, royalty, luck and ambition
• Bounding main crush – Traveller to far places or victorious naval commander
• Fish – Truthful, generous and virtuous for himself, non because of his heritage. Unity with Christ and spiritual nourishment
• Play a joke on – Volition use all of their wisdom and wit in their own defence
• Gannet – Someone who has to subsist by virtue and merit
• Goat – Someone who has political ability
• Goose – Resourcefulness
• Greyhound – Loyalty, backbone and vigilance
• Hare – Someone who enjoys a peaceable and retired life
• Hawk or Falcon – Someone who does not rest until they have achieved their goal
• Hedgehog – Providers
• Equus caballus – Readiness for all employments for rex and state
• Lamb – Gentleness and patience under suffering. A lamb conveying a staff or imprint with a cross is a 'paschal lamb' which represents organized religion, innocence, bravery, purity and a resolute spirit
• Leopard – Valiant, hardy warrior who enters things with force and courage
• Panthera leo – Fearless courage
• Ostrich – Willing obedience and quiet
• Ox – Courage and generosity
• Black Panther – Fierce simply tender. Loving and accused of her children
• Peacock – Dazzler, power and noesis
• Pelican – Charitable and self-sacrificial nature
• Rabbit – Peaceable and retired life
• Ram – Authorisation
• Raven – Divine providence
• Rhino – Ferocious when provoked
• Serpent or Snake – Wisdom
• Spider – Wisdom and labour
• Squirrel – Lover of the woods
• Stag – Peace and harmony. Volition not fight unless provoked
• Stag's antlers – The antlers symbolise strength and fortitude
• Stork – Family duty, close parental bail. Belongings a rock symbolises vigilance
• Swallow – Bearer of skilful news. Someone who is prompt and ready in doing business
• Swan – Harmony, light, love, grace, sincerity and perfection
• Tiger – Fierceness and bravery. Resentment and unsafe if provoked
• Tortoise – Invulnerability to assail
• Wolf – Reward from perseverance in long sieges and/or hard industry

Mythical Creatures

Of class mythical creatures often featured on family crests too. These held particular significance in heraldry. Here are the nigh common mythological creatures:

• Centaur (Man/Horse) – Reputation on the battle field
• Cockatrice (Chicken/Dragon) – Terror to all beholders
• Dragon/Wyvern (Dragon with 2 legs) – Valiant defender and protection of treasure
• Griffin (Hawkeye/Lion) – Death-defying bravery and vigilance
• Harpy (Confront, neck and breast of human/Torso of a panthera leo) – Ferocious when provoked
• Hydra (7 headed dragon) – Conquest of a very powerful enemy
• Mermaid – Eloquence
• Pegasus (Winged unicorn) –Poetic genius and inspiration. Messenger of God
• Phoenix – Symbol of resurrection
• Sphinx -Wisdom and secrecy
• Unicorn – Extreme courage, virtue and strength

Objects

Objects had many different meanings which added to the uniqueness of the arms as well every bit identifying the person or family unit. Hither are the most mutual objects:

• Agricultural tools – Labouring in the earth
• Anchor – Hope and religious commitment
• Anvil – Laurels
• Arrow – Readiness for battle. If paired with a cantankerous, this represents a suffering.
• Axe (or Boxing Axe) – Execution of war machine duty
• Banners – Special action in which bearer was captured, or a advantage for valiant service
• Bar, Barry or Barrulet – Someone who sets the bar of conscience, religion and honour against angry passions and evil temptations
• Billy – Dominance
• Bells – Ability to disperse evil spirits
• Bones – Mortality
• Book – Open up – manifestation. Airtight – counsel
• Bow – Readiness for battle
• Bridge – Governor or magistrate
• Broom – Humbleness
• Buckle – Victorious allegiance in potency
• Cannon and Cannon Balls – Someone who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle
• Chains – Reward for acceptable and weighty service. With crowns and collars, this suggests the bearer diameter the chain of obligation or obliged others because of services washed
• Cavalcade – Fortitude and constancy. A serpent coiled around it means wisdom with fortitude
• Cup (covered) – Office of the king's butler
• Pulsate – Set up for state of war
• Feathers – Obedience and tranquility
• Fleur-de-lis – Purity and lite. Floral bluecoat of France; represents sixth son as mark of difference
• Flint – Readiness for zealous service
• Fountain – Water or a spring
• Grenade – Someone who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle
• Hand/red hand – Pledge of faith, sincerity and justice.  Two right hands conjoined represent union and alliance
• Harp – Well-composed person of tempered judgment and contemplation. A mystical bridge between sky and earth
• Horns – Strength and fortitude
• Horseshoe – Good luck and safeguard against evil spirits
• Hourglass – Flight of time and bloodshed
• Hunting Horn – Someone who is addicted of the chase and of high spirits
• Keys – Guardianship and dominion
• Letters – May represent great battles or tournaments beginning with that letter
• Mullet (a five point straight-sided star) – Divine quality from above. Marking of third son
• Pen – Art of writing and educated employment
• Pipes – Festivity and rejoicing
• Plumage of feathers – Sign of willing obedience and serenity of mind
• Portcullis – Protection in an emergency
• Rock – Safe and protection
• Saddle – Set for agile service
• Scallop trounce – Traveller to far places or victorious naval commander
• Scythe – The hope of a fruitful harvest
• Ship – Sea voyages
• Skull – Mortality
• Sphere – Geographical or scientific reference
• Stirrup – Readiness for active service
• Sword/dagger/dart – Justice and war machine accolade
• Table – Hospitality
• Tent – Readiness for battle
• Torch – Life, enthusiasm, truth and intelligence
• Trumpet – Set up for war
• Wheel – Fortune
• Wheel (Catherine) – Torture

Flowers and fruit

Flowers usually represent promise and joy whilst fruit tin can signify felicity and peace. Here are the almost common fruits and flowers:

• Acacia branch/leaves – Eternal and affectionate remembrance
• Acorn – Independence in its bearer
• Apple tree – Liberality, felicity and peace
• Bay leaves – Poet or victor's laurel
• Berries – Liberality, felicity and peace
• Cypress – Death and eternal life thereafter
• Grapes – Liberality, felicity and peace. Also associated with wine-making
• Laurel leaves – Peace and/or triumph
• Oak tree/leaves – Great age and strength
• Olive co-operative/leaves – Peace and concordance
• Rose – Mark of the seventh son (a reddish rose symbolises grace and beauty while a white rose means love and religion)
• Wheatsheaf – Plenty and commendable hospitality

Reasons why you lot should learn nigh your Family Crest

Observe your family motto

Many mottoes in heraldry speak proudly of virtue, backbone, loyalty, forcefulness, and faith. Most families accept an old family motto fastened to their crest, which depicts the cadre values of the family unit but were not generally used until the 17th century, therefore the oldest coats of arms occasionally exercise non include a motto.

Originated from battle war cries, these mottoes and slogans provide an insight into your family name and their history. The family surname Andrews has a valued motto of "Victrix fortunœ sapientia", which translates to "Wisdom the conqueror of fortune" whilst the slogan of the family name McMartin is "Aonaibh ri cheile" pregnant "Unite".

Honour your ancestors

Family history enquiry takes time and dedication, but shouldn't we honour our ancestors and preserve their legacy? Past uncovering the details of your family coat of artillery, y'all tin assist share the unique story and motto with your children and other family members.

Inspiring children and other family members with the cognition uncovered in your genealogy research, you might create an interest for them to take role in family history research and conduct the legacy of your family unit on.

Beginning a new tradition

If you weren't enlightened of your crest before now, why not first a new tradition with your kids? Mark those special occasions with personalised family unit crest gifts. Welcome your son into adulthood on his eighteen^thursday birthday with a long-lasting present inscribed with your surname crest or family unit motto. Celebrate his graduation or wedding solar day with a totally unique keepsake that he himself tin can hand downwardly to his children and for generations to come up.

Family unit crest presents make unusual yet remarkable gift ideas for those interested in family history and their ancestory. Click here for some of our favourite ideas with family unit crests – Ideal for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and leaving presents.

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Source: https://www.giftsonline4u.com/topics/how-to-unlock-the-secrets-of-your-family-crest/

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