Family crests are more than decorative emblems—they’re symbolic representations of your family’s heritage, history, and values. From fierce lions to noble crosses, every element in a family crest tells a story. But what exactly is a family crest, and how do you know if your family has one?
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of family crests and uncover the legacy behind your surname
What Is a Family Crest?
A family crest is a specific part of a coat of arms—a unique heraldic design traditionally used to represent noble families. The crest sits on top of the coat of arms, usually above the helmet, and often features symbolic elements like animals, weapons, or objects.
Sometimes people refer to the entire coat of arms as a ‘family crest’ but technically, the crest is just one part of the overall design. It’s often the most recognisable element and can stand alone as a simpler visual representation of the family.
This photo below shows a small selection of coats of arms with the crests clearly visible on the top. If you are interested to discover if there’s a coat of arms or family crest for your own surname, just enter the name in the search box at the top of this page.
The design of the crest might include a lion, tiger, horse or cross, but there are many others. Similarly, some crests include arrows or chains. For example, a lion represents deathless courage and hence the symbol of a true warrior. Something to share with friends down the pub when they question your character!
How Can I Find My Family’s Crest?
You can discover your family crest, coat of arms, and surname history by using our free search tool.
Simply enter your surname into the search box near the top of this page and click submit. Our extensive archive includes family crests and coat of arms records from many regions, including:
England
Scotland
Ireland
Wales
Germany
Italy
Spain
Canada
Australia
United States
If we don’t have a match for your surname immediately, contact us directly—our team will manually check our archives for any variations or alternate spellings.
A family crest and coat of arms reflected a person’s values, achievements
Do all families have a family crest?
No—not every family has a family crest or coat of arms. Heraldic symbols were originally granted to individuals, not entire families. That means:
Multiple people with the same surname might have completely different coats of arms
Some surnames never received a crest or arms at all
Crests were historically granted in Europe, so some names may not have heraldic records
However, many surnames do have existing crests—especially if your ancestors lived in regions with strong heraldic traditions.
Please use our search tool to find out if you have a family crest with your coat of arms. Our family crest archive contains a wide variety of different symbols but if your search doesn’t reveal one for your surname please contact us so we can double check for you.
What Does It Mean If Your Family Has a Crest?
A family crest represents more than just visual art—it reflects a person’s’ values, achievements, and societal roles. The imagery used in a coat of arms often signified:
Military service or noble lineage
Personal virtues like courage, faith, or wisdom
Family achievements, professions, or allegiances
Owning or displaying your family crest can be a meaningful way to honour your name’s ancestry and share your story with future generations.
Coat of Arms vs. Family Crest: What’s the Difference?
Many people use ‘coat of arms’ and ‘family crest’ interchangeably—but they’re not quite the same:
Coat of Arms: The full heraldic design, including the shield, helmet, motto, supporters, and crest
Family Crest: The symbolic element that sits at the top of the coat of arms, often mounted on a helmet. Why not check out our free online dictionary, which tells you what the various symbols mean.
So while all family crests are part of a coat of arms, not all references to coats of arms should be called a ‘family crest’.
What Do the Colours on a Family Crest Mean?
The colours, or ‘tinctures’, used in a family crest also carry symbolic meaning. The colours within a design were intended to be visible from far away and highly recognisable and this informed which colours went together. Because of this, simple background colours like red, blue, green, black, and purple go with metal colours, yellow for gold and white for silver.
Colours had meanings for each family:
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Colour
Meaning
Gold (Or)
Generosity, elevation of the mind
Silver/White (Argent)
Peace, sincerity
Red (Gules)
Courage, strength, military might
Blue (Azure)
Loyalty, truth
Green (Vert)
Hope, joy, loyalty in love
Black (Sable)
Constancy, resilience
Purple
Royalty, justice, sovereignty
Orange
Ambition, drive
Maroon
Victory through perseverance
Some crests also feature fur patterns, such as:
Ermine (black spots on white): dignity and nobility
Vair (blue and white alternating): historical fur used by nobility
Understanding these colours and patterns gives deeper insight into your family name’s values and legacy.
Start your journey into heraldry today. Use our free search tool to uncover the symbols and stories behind your family name. You might even find the perfect gift featuring the heraldry!
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Hello and thank you for your interest. If you look at the top of each page of our website, you will hopefully see our name search facility which enables you to search any name on our database of a million, including the earliest coat of arms we have on record.
There is a bird on the crest but I can’t tell if it is a sand martin or not. You can search your name in the search box and it will show you a picture. Best wishes, Wendy.
Yes, you’re right Julian. It was only scribes and church officials that could spell so they recorded names as they sounded. One person may have different spellings on different documents because of this.
Hello Marie, If you click on our product ‘coat of arms and surname history’ this gives a very detailed account of the Gallagher name and you’ll be able to see its earliest known coat of arms. We can print and send to you frames or unframed if you would like to order. Hope that helps.
Hello and thank you for your enquiry. I am sorry that we do not have this specific name on our system – Sometimes names can have a similar root, for example we do have Hook, and can alter the title at the top if that would help. Our research team do regularly update our records so it may be added to our database in the future.
I’m doing 4 branches of my family tree and I’m coming up with quiet a few family crests. How do I find out if they are correct and how they were given to my ancestors? Any assistance would be most grateful.
They will all be correct, just registered to different people at different times. We try to locate the oldest one on record. Hope this helps! Best wishes, Wendy.
Hello I am trying to get the coat of arms for my husband and his cousin since they are the last of their family in this country. I believe the remaining are in Italy
Interested in locating the Motley coat of arms and family Crest. It is my understanding the family origin is England… father and grandfather names both Blair… any suggestions on how to find this ?
Hello Beth, If you would like to type the name into the serach bar at the top of each of our website pages, it will show you a brief snippet of the name’s origins and its earliest coat of arms. We can print the full history of the name for you. It appears to have originated in Shropshire. Hope that helps!
Hi Lois, Indeed there is. If you use the family name search at the top of each page of our website, it will give you a snippet of the information plus show you what the earliest coat of arms looked like.
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Love the learning the history behind them!
GULLATT
and the meaning of the coat of arms
Unfortunately we don’t have Gullatt on our database Eleanor. Best wishes, Wendy.
Would love to know what our family crest would be
.
Hello and thank you for your interest. If you look at the top of each page of our website, you will hopefully see our name search facility which enables you to search any name on our database of a million, including the earliest coat of arms we have on record.
Hey do you know and have the original design of the REAL “Sherman family crest”? as in Roger Sherman and William Tecumseh “Sherman family crest”?
We have two on record Zoey. You can search the name and it will come up with what we have. Best wishes, Wendy.
I have 2 names both knights same family 2 different coat of arms
1) Sir Richard Woodruff
2) Sir Edward Woodrove
Coat of arms and crest?
Hi Terry, the crest is at the top of the Coat of Arms, we do have the name Twigg. Best wishes, Wendy.
Hello!
Where can I send a picture of of theCrest/Coat of Arms to have it explained tome please?
Thank You!
Anna Schrock nee Harris/Yaeger/Borg
Hi – please send it to me at wendy@hallofnames.org.uk.
nubre3d@gmail.com I’m looking to see my family lineage
Hi Michael, we are not in the business of Genealogy but we do have the history of the name Brown. Best wishes, Wendy.
How can i go about o lok for my coat of arms or crest
You can search your name on our site in the name search box John.
My surname is priest my grandfather always said our family crest was a sand Martin however I can’t find anything to show that I’d love to know more
Hi Ellie
There is a bird on the crest but I can’t tell if it is a sand martin or not. You can search your name in the search box and it will show you a picture. Best wishes, Wendy.
Some times our sur names are translated in different forms for example my sur name Lemus may also go by Lemux and take on many other ancient forms
Yes, you’re right Julian. It was only scribes and church officials that could spell so they recorded names as they sounded. One person may have different spellings on different documents because of this.
My last name is Gallagher I know my grand parents are from Ireland mid 1800, how do I get more information on the history
Hello Marie, If you click on our product ‘coat of arms and surname history’ this gives a very detailed account of the Gallagher name and you’ll be able to see its earliest known coat of arms. We can print and send to you frames or unframed if you would like to order. Hope that helps.
Good evening
I’ve searched my last name, well what was my maiden name and it shows nothing. I wondered if there was a family crest. If not why not?
It was Hookway
Hello and thank you for your enquiry. I am sorry that we do not have this specific name on our system – Sometimes names can have a similar root, for example we do have Hook, and can alter the title at the top if that would help. Our research team do regularly update our records so it may be added to our database in the future.
My family crest is mostly red with a wolf’s head.
My ancestor was a cardinal to Henry VIII. He was later killed.
What does the wolf’s head mean?
Hello, we have a free online dictionary of symbols which will hopefully help:https://www.hallofnames.org.uk/heraldry-symbols-and-what-they-mean/
I’m doing 4 branches of my family tree and I’m coming up with quiet a few family crests. How do I find out if they are correct and how they were given to my ancestors? Any assistance would be most grateful.
Kind Regards
Hi Danielle
They will all be correct, just registered to different people at different times. We try to locate the oldest one on record. Hope this helps! Best wishes, Wendy.
Do I have a family crest
Hi David
Yes, we do have Briley. You can search for any names on the name search and you can see what it is. Best wishes, Wendy
Hello I am trying to get the coat of arms for my husband and his cousin since they are the last of their family in this country. I believe the remaining are in Italy
Hi. If it’s Cosenza then yes we do have this name. Best wishes, Wendy.
I’ve found multiple different crests for the last name Shaffer. Which one is the real crest?
They will all be real, just registered to different people at different times. We try to locate the oldest one on record. Hope this helps!
Interested in locating the Motley coat of arms and family Crest. It is my understanding the family origin is England… father and grandfather names both Blair… any suggestions on how to find this ?
Hello Beth, If you would like to type the name into the serach bar at the top of each of our website pages, it will show you a brief snippet of the name’s origins and its earliest coat of arms. We can print the full history of the name for you. It appears to have originated in Shropshire. Hope that helps!
Is there a coat of arms or family crest for the name CARSWELL ?
Hi Lois, Indeed there is. If you use the family name search at the top of each page of our website, it will give you a snippet of the information plus show you what the earliest coat of arms looked like.