Learn About Designing Your Own Family Crest

Understanding Family Crests: History and Purpose

A family crest is a visual symbol that represents a family's identity, history, and values. The tradition of family crests dates back to medieval Europe, roughly around the 12th century, when knights needed ways to identify themselves on battlefields. Since armor covered most of a person's body, knights began painting symbols on their shields—these early designs eventually became what we know today as family crests or coat of arms.

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The term "coat of arms" comes from the practice of embroidering these symbols onto a tunic worn over armor, called a "coat of arms." Over time, this visual language became incredibly detailed and followed specific rules. Each element—from colors to shapes to animals—carried specific meanings. A lion might represent courage, while a shield shape could indicate social status. These symbols were passed down through families and became a way to show heritage, achievements, and allegiances.

Family crests served practical purposes beyond identification. During medieval times, they helped people recognize noble families and understand social hierarchies. They appeared on letters, documents, seals, and official records. A person could "read" a crest and learn information about a family's history, accomplishments, and sometimes their geographic origins. This system was so useful that it spread across Europe and influenced how families in many cultures identified themselves.

Today, designing a family crest serves a different purpose. Rather than indicating nobility or battlefield identity, modern family crests celebrate heritage and create a visual representation of family values. Some families research their actual historical crests, while others design new ones that reflect their current identity. Understanding this history helps you appreciate why certain symbols and design rules still matter when creating your own crest.

Practical Takeaway: Before designing your crest, consider what your family wants to communicate. Are you representing actual historical heritage, or creating a modern symbol of your family's values? Understanding your purpose will guide your design choices.

The Basic Elements and Symbols of Heraldry

Heraldry—the study and practice of creating coat of arms—follows specific rules about what symbols mean and how they should be arranged. Learning these traditional meanings helps you create a crest that communicates your intended message. Different animals, objects, and colors each carry symbolic weight that people historically recognized.

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Colors in heraldry are called "tinctures." The main colors are gules (red), azure (blue), vert (green), purpure (purple), and sable (black). There are also two metals: or (gold/yellow) and argent (silver/white). Historically, there's a rule called the "rule of tincture"—metal should not be placed directly on metal, and color should not be placed directly on color. This rule developed because it helped distinguish crests from a distance. When designing your family crest, following this rule makes your design more visible and readable.

Animals commonly appear in heraldry because they represent specific qualities. A lion traditionally symbolizes courage, strength, and nobility. Eagles represent power and vision. Wolves can mean loyalty or fierceness. Stags represent gentleness and peace. Dragons represent power and protection. Griffins (part eagle, part lion) represent strength and courage combined. When you select animals for your crest, think about what qualities matter to your family.

Objects and patterns also carry meaning. A sword represents justice or strength. A shield represents protection. A cross might represent faith or crusading spirit. Floral patterns like roses can indicate beauty or love. Stripes or crosses as background patterns (called "charges") add texture and visual interest while carrying their own meanings. Stars represent hope or destiny. Crowns represent authority or achievement.

The shield itself comes in various shapes, each with historical significance. A traditional heater shield (shaped like an upside-down heart) is the most recognizable and was used by medieval knights. Other shapes include the kite shield (longer and narrower), the rounded shield, and the pointed shield. The shape you choose affects how your design looks and can reference different time periods or regions.

Practical Takeaway: Create a list of 3-5 qualities important to your family, then research which animals and objects traditionally represent those qualities. This focused approach produces more meaningful designs than random symbol selection.

Researching Your Family's Actual Heritage

If your family has genuine historical roots in Europe, your family may already have a recorded coat of arms. Many heraldic registries document crests dating back hundreds of years. Researching whether your family has historical heraldry is valuable whether you plan to use that design or create something new based on your discoveries.

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Several resources can help with heraldic research. The College of Arms in London maintains records of English, Welsh, Northern Irish, and many Commonwealth heraldry. Scotland has the Court of the Lord Lyon. Ireland has the Genealogical Office. These institutions have been officially registering coats of arms for centuries and maintain searchable databases. Many local heraldic societies also exist and can provide guidance specific to your region.

Genealogy websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch often include heraldic information alongside family trees. If you know your family's country of origin, searching that country's heraldic registry can reveal documented crests. Keep in mind that in some cultures, heraldry was strictly regulated and only certain social classes could display crests. In others, the practice was more informal. Understanding your family's actual social position and geography helps you interpret what you find.

If you do find your family's historical crest, you have choices. Some people display it exactly as recorded in historical documents. Others use it as inspiration and modernize it. Some learn from it but design something entirely new that better reflects their current family identity. None of these choices is "wrong"—it depends on what matters to your family.

When researching, keep organized notes about what you discover. Record the source of the information, when the crest was registered, and what variations exist. Some families have multiple documented crests from different branches or time periods. This research becomes part of your family's story and adds depth to whatever design you ultimately create.

Practical Takeaway: Spend time searching heraldic registries online before designing. Even if you don't find your family's exact crest, discovering related families or regional heraldic styles provides valuable inspiration and context for your own design.

Designing Your Crest: Practical Design Steps

Creating a family crest involves several clear design steps. Start by sketching rough ideas on paper before moving to digital tools. This low-pressure approach lets you experiment freely and generate multiple options. Sketch at least 5-10 different composition ideas, even if some seem imperfect. Often the best designs come from unexpected combinations.

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Next, decide on your crest's basic structure. A traditional crest includes a shield as the central element, with the main design filling the shield. You may also include a banner or scroll at the bottom with a family motto. Some people add additional elements like a helmet above the shield, a supporter (figure) on each side, or decorative flourishes, though these are optional. For your first crest, keeping the design centered on a single shield shape keeps things manageable.

Division of the shield offers compositional options. You can divide the shield vertically (dexter and sinister—meaning right and left from the wearer's perspective), horizontally (chief, middle, and base), diagonally, or in a quartered pattern (four sections). Each division type creates different visual balance. A vertical division suggests equal importance for two concepts. A horizontal division emphasizes the top or bottom. Diagonal divisions create dynamic movement. Choose division based on how many elements you want to include.

Select your colors next, keeping the rule of tincture in mind—don't place metal on metal or color on color. A gold shield with red lion works. A blue shield with silver stars works. A red shield with gold cross works. But a gold shield with white lion is harder to read at a distance. Most effective crests use 2-3 colors maximum. More than three colors creates visual confusion and reduces the crest's impact.

Position your main element (usually an animal or object) centered on the shield or in the upper portion. If you have multiple elements, arrange them in a balanced pattern. The top of the crest should be more detailed or heavier visually than the bottom. Test your design at small sizes—if it becomes hard to identify at 1 inch wide, simplify it. The best crests remain clear even when printed small.

Practical Takeaway: Use