Johnson Coat of Arms

This JOHNSON coat of arms, is of English origin. The name is also found in Ireland, England and Wales and appears in many medieval manuscripts, throughout the above countries. The heraldic description of the JOHNSON coat of arms, is recorded in Burke’s General Armory. The General Armory, is a registry of coats of arms, from […]

The True Origin of Coats of Arms

Heraldry is the skill which teaches how to blazon or describe in proper terms armorial bearings and their accessories. Hereditary coats of arms of families were first introduced at the commencement of the twelfth century. When various armies engaged in the expeditions to the Holy Land, the Crusades, consisting of the troops of twenty different […]

A Pictorial Heraldry Dictionary

Here’s a very useful heraldry dictionary. It is the Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry by Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme, Batonvert Herald Extraordinary of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The Dictionary has 762 entries, is illustrated, (most have sources cited) and includes four different ways search. I know I will be using it! The Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry […]

20 Free Fonts for your Medieval, Heraldic and Coat of Arms Designs

Everyone loves new fonts! Here’s 20 Medieval fonts for your medieval and heraldic projects. Please be sure and check the license of each font file. Some are for personal projects only, and others are available for both commercial and personal works. This free fonts roundup is a little bit more specific and created for niche designs and […]

Grant of Arms to a French Tutor in 1522

The earliest grants of arms in England were thought to be around 1390 when coats of arms were discovered in various documents and court records as being granted by the Crown. Some of these earliest grants actually proclaim that the recipients are being proclaimed noblemen and gentlemen. This is what a Grant of Arms looked […]

The Symbolism of the Montréal Coat of Arms Explained

The coat of arms of Montréal is a good example of the use of symbolism in heraldry and coats of arms. Read about the symbols on the Montréal coat of arms and what they represent. The Montréal coat of arms was adopted in 1833 by the city councillors of the time. It was modified 105 years later […]

What is a Coat of Arms?

A coat of arms, in its most basic form, consists of heraldic colors, symbols and shapes positioned on a shield or escutcheon. The coat of arms was originally developed to distinguish knights in battle. By the Middle Ages, Knights were fully encased in armor and wore a helmet which hid their faces. They were effectively […]

The Unappreciated Salamander in Heraldry

Salamanders may seem unlikely creatures to be found on coats of arms but they appear on the arms of many families, both Royal and noble, throughout Europe. Salamanders were generally shown as in flames and sometimes with a human head. A green salamander surrounded by fire appears on the Douglass crest. Salamanders were used as symbols […]

Should You Decorate your Yard with a Coat of Arms?

If you can, why not. But not all of us have the skills to accomplish this. I have always relied on displaying the flag when I want to express my patriotism. The lion and unicorn are the supporters for the Canadian coat of arms seen below. Oro-Medonte man put together a coat of arms display […]

Bishop Barron on His Episcopal Coat of Arms

Differing from other heraldry, Ecclesiastical heraldry varies notably in the use of distinctive insignia around the shield to indicate the bearer’s rank in the church. The most notable of these decorations is the hat with a low crown and wide brim, generally the Roman galero. The color and embellishment of this hat indicates rank. Red […]