How do I find out if my family is 'entitled' to a family crest/coat of arms?
I always wanted a family crest but now that I have researched it a bit more I found out that the family crest business is a rip-off business, and that a person not a family is awarded with a coat of arms. And the oldest son of the family is the one who continues it through the family(or something like that). How do I find out if my family actually has a family crest?
If an ancestor in your male-line ancestry bore a coat of arms, you can use his arms. The first-born rule is followed only in Scotland and no where else with regularity, so brothers can bear the same arms.
In America, unlike in Britain, there is no heraldic regulation, so if you cannot find a male-line ancestor who bore arms, you can design a new coat of arms to start your own tradition. I would suggest that you get some design help from an heraldic society, such as the AHS or the IAAH.
US $12.71
