Gourt > Society > Genealogy > Heraldry (2)
Heraldry is the practice of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats of arms and badges, as well as the formal ceremonies and laws that regulate the use and inheritance of arms. The origins of heraldry lie in the need to distinguish participants in battles or jousts, whose faces were hidden by steel helmets.
In the U.S., the word "crest" is commonly used to refer to a coat-of-arms. However, in heraldry, a crest is just one component of a complete achievement of arms. The crest sits on top of a helmet, which itself sits on the main and most recognizable part of the arms, the shield or escutcheon. Other elements may include supporters holding up the shield and a motto beneath. Crests can in fact be used on their own (this is particularly useful when there is insufficient space to display the entire coat-of-arms); but where the shield alone is used it should never be called a "crest".
Origins and history
The knights in the Bayeux Tapestry from the late eleventh century carry no coats of arms, yet by the mid twelfth century personal badges were being used widely by nobility. By the reign of Henry III of England, arms were inherited, thus their judicial regulation became important. The practice of using marks of cadency arose, to distinguish one son from another, and was institutionalized (standardized) by the fifteenth century. More on [ Heraldry ]
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Heraldica - FAQs, introductions to heraldic concepts and terms, an illustrated glossary and information on heraldry within various countries and groups.
Meta Description: [ A site devoted to heraldry (the study of coats of arms) of all forms and in all places. Related topics: titles, nobility, knighthood, national emblems, royalty ]
A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry - An illustrated heraldic dictionary by James Parker which was first published in 1894.
A Survey of Automotive Heraldry - Discusses heraldic and heraldic-derived emblems used by automobile manufacturers.
American Academy for the Promotion of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences - Provides resources and a forum for the academic discussion of genealogy and heraldry. Includes organization information, members and links.
Catholic Encyclopedia: Ecclesiastical Heraldry - Information on heraldry as it is used in and by the Catholic church.
Meta Description: [ Information on heraldry as it is used in and by the Catholic Church ]
Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - Coats of arms or badges for over 380 English and Welsh civil authorities.
Meta Description: [ information on civic heraldry in england and wales both contemporary and obsolete ]
Clackson Heraldry Pages - Includes information and illustrations of the arms of Clackson family members.
Meta Description: [ Clackson Heraldry Pages - details of the Clackson armorial bearings ]
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Coat of Arms.org - Indexes coats of arms by name, including blazon, emblazon, history and place of origin.
EarlyBlazon.com - Coats of arms from the Cathar crusade in the 13th century. [English/French]
Meta Description: [ early coat of arms armory, armorial de blasons anciens ]
Elizabethan Heraldry - Includes a history of heraldry through the renaissance, information on officers of arms in England and a primer of blazonry.
Meta Description: [ Everyday life in Tudor England - food, occupations, games,
pastimes, religion, fashion, manners, and education in the time of
Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare. ]
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Georgian Heraldry - Information on Family and City coat of arms, national symbols of Georgia.
Governor General of Canada - Describes heraldry in Canada and the roles of the Governor General and Canadian Heraldic Authority.
Heraldic America - Features articles, a bibliography, and a forum on North American heraldry. [French/English]
Meta Description: [ A Site devoted to North American Heraldry. Le site de l'hraldique nord-amricaine. ]
Heraldry in Macedonia - Deals with heraldry Macedonia. Includes depictions of arms, Macedonian symbolism and links.
Heraldry Links - A collection of links to various heraldic and flag-related resources.
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Heraldry on the Internet - An indexed directory of heraldic resources with an emphasis on research.
Meta Description: [ Heraldic Research on the Internet. Related topics: Heraldic research, charges, dictionary of heraldry, coats of arms, surnames, genealogy, clip art. ]
Heraldry Symbols - Potential symbolic meanings of heraldic charges, with a special focus on Irish heraldry.
Meta Description: [ The symbols of Irish Heraldry explained,Irish surnames explained,Irish Genealogy,Irish coats of arms,How to start the search for your Irish roots,family crests,genealogy,Irish roots,heritage,Ireland,ancestry,decendants ]
International Civic Arms - Index of arms used by all levels of government throughout the world. Most of the entries have illustrations.
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Japanese Family Crests - Shows common historical family crests and a lexicon of common names.
Meta Description: [ Introducing Japanese famiy crest, so-called Kamon. Well designed!, coolest!! and awesom !!! Such ka-mons are here. We make original Kamon T-shirt only for you. ]
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Pimbley's Heraldic Dictionary - An English dictionary of heraldic terms, originally published in 1908.
Polish Nobility 2001 - Armorial of Polish Nobility and information about Polish Royalty.
rec.heraldry FAQ - An FAQ for the Usenet group rec.heraldry.
Roll of Arms of rec.heraldry - Arms of members of the Usenet newsgroup rec.heraldry and others of interest to that group.
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Studies in Heraldry - Information on the civic heraldry of France, historical seals, and more than 1700 coats of arms from early rolls with blazon and emblazon.
The Baronage Press - Concerns the art, history and symbolism of heraldry, and the history, politics, books, cinema and television to which heraldry has thematic links.
Meta Description: [ Notice of 2006 Christmas Quiz Answer Paper being uploaded ]
The Law of Arms in Mediaeval England - Discusses the development of the law from its origin to the present.
The Mad Alchemist's Heraldry - The heraldry of Canada, and of its provinces and cities.
Meta Description: [ The heraldry (coats of arms and crests) of the provinces and the cities of Canada. ]
The Puncher Heraldry Program - Based on user-provided information creates an image of a simple coat of arms.
Meta Description: [ Online heraldic drawing page using my Puncher Heraldry Program software ]
The Quartermaster Heraldic Section - Information on the institutions charged with the handling of U.S. military heraldry.
The Right to Arms - Describes to whom the right to bear a coat of arms belongs.
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