In many shopping malls across America, you will see pushcart vendors
selling reproductions of coats of arms, claiming to be the "proud history
and heritage of your family name" or similar words. These merchants sell
coats of arms on parchment paper, suitable for framing. They also may sell coats
of arms on t-shirts, sweatshirts, golf jerseys, stationery, coffee mugs, or
even key chains.
Similar "businesses" exist on the Web. A number of Web
sites proclaim that they can sell you "authentic" copies of your family’s
coat of arms. One Web site says, "What is your Name? What was it's origin?
Was it taken from the name of a village? Was it taken from the Bible? A clan
name? An Occupation? An ancient landmark? Who were your historical namesakes
who bore your fine family name in the homeland of your ancestors?"
Sometimes they also claim to sell "gifts of lasting heritage."
I have one thing to say to these con artists: "Balderdash!"
Actually, that’s not my first choice of response, but, after
all, this is a family newsletter.
The study of coats of arms is called heraldry. Those who control
the issuance of arms are the heralds. Typically, each country in Western Europe
as well as in England, Scotland, and Ireland has an office of the heralds, sometimes
called the Kings of Arms. The heralds are empowered to decide who is authorized
to display a certain coat of arms. If you do not have authorization from the
heralds, you are not authorized to display any coat of arms.
Most Americans seem ignorant of one very basic fact: in Western
Europe and in the British Isles, there is no such thing as a "family coat
of arms." A coat of arms is issued to one person, not to a family. After
that person is deceased, his eldest heir may apply for the same coat of arms.
Again, when he dies, his heir may apply. The rules for determining who is eligible
to display a coat of arms are very similar to the rules for becoming King or
Queen of England. However, even the proper heir cannot display the coat of arms
until he or she has received authorization (been confirmed) by the heralds.
At any one time, only one person may rightfully display a coat of arms.
According to the American College of Heraldry, "While Americans
are usually fascinated by the beauty of heraldry, they are rarely familiar with
its meaning and traditions and, therefore, often misunderstand and even abuse
this rich cultural heritage. They seldom understand that a coat of arms is usually
granted, certified, registered, or otherwise recognized as belonging to one
individual alone, and that only his direct descendants with proven lineage can
be recognized as eligible to inherit the arms. Exceptions to this rule are rare."
The American College of Heraldry also says, "It is highly
inappropriate for one to locate the arms of another person sharing the same
surname, and to simply adopt and use these arms as one's own." My interpretation
of this is that, if you are displaying an unauthorized coat of arms, you are
impersonating someone else.
The College of Arms in England (the heralds for English, Welsh,
Northern Irish, and Commonwealth families) says, "For any person to have
a right to a coat of arms they must either have had it granted to them or be
descended in the legitimate male line from a person to whom arms were granted
or confirmed in the past."
Despite these warnings, many vendors are making money by preying
on Americans’ ignorance of the topic. The pushcarts you see in shopping
malls typically are franchise operations. One pushcart owner told me that he
paid $6,000 for a "franchise" to sell this stuff. The so-called franchise
did not include a protected territory; another franchisee was free to set up
business in the same area. For the $6,000 investment, the franchisee receives
a computer with a database containing thousands of surnames and so-called "family
coats of arms," a high-quality printer, a supply of parchment paper, and
a supply of coffee cups, key chains, and other paraphernalia. These franchisees
reportedly receive no training in the study of heraldry. The ones I have talked
to didn’t recognize the term "College of Arms."
The Web sites aren’t much better. The ones I have looked
at seem to have carefully-worded claims. Instead of saying, "your family’s
coat of arms," they will say something like "your historical namesakes."
Okay, "namesakes" doesn’t mean "ancestors," but it
still will be misleading to many people. When a Web site proclaims, "your
historical namesakes," most people will think that means "my family."
However, if argued in court, the wording on the Web site would probably be considered
correct. In short, I doubt if these companies will be shut down for misrepresenting
their wares as they are very careful in their choice of words.
The next time someone offers a copy of your "family’s
coat of arms," ask them for the documentation. They won’t have any.
If a friend of yours is displaying a coat of arms on his stationery or on his
fireplace mantel, I suggest you simply walk away smiling. There’s no sense
in upsetting a good friendship. But don’t be as gullible as your friend.
And please, please do not display your "family’s coat of arms"
on your genealogy Web site unless you have been confirmed by the heralds, okay?
If you would like to learn more about the serious study of heraldry
and any rights you might have to display coats of arms, there are a number of
Web sites devoted to the truth. Here is a short list of some of the more reputable
ones:
None of the above sell printouts on parchment paper, t-shirts,
or key chains. Some of them do sell books and magazines devoted to the study
of heraldry, however.
Here are some Web sites selling questionable merchandise. If you
care about accuracy, please avoid the Hall of Names at: www.hallofnames.com,
the Historical Research Center at: www.names.com,
the "Home to Family History Research & Fine Heraldic Art" at:
www.traceit.com, Heraldry on the Internet
at: www.digiserve.com/heraldry,
and other merchants of their ilk. There are many other such sites on the Internet;
some of them appear to be franchisees of the ones I have listed. Any site that
purports to sell "your family coat of arms" is a rip-off.
Dick Eastman Online
