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I
plan on registering a coat of arms with the Council of Arms, but I
do not have a coat of arms granted. What do I do?
Because
of its international nature, all arms to be registered with the
Council of Arms must have been granted by a granting authority, such
as a royal house or government. For information on registering a coat of arms or obtaining a grant of arms, please click here.
How
does the Council of Arms ensure that the arms I register do not
conflict with existing armorial bearings granted to someone else?
This
is a matter beyond the scope of the Council, as the Council only
registers arms granted by lawful granting authorities. However, no
office of arms or private heraldry club has the resources or the
obligation to complete an exhaustive search of all extant arms.
Furthermore, there is no complete listing of all arms in the world.
Does
the Council of Arms register armorial bearings as they are submitted?
The
Council registers arms in accordance with the original grant and the
heraldic privileges of the registrant. The actual final rendering is
generally in accordance with standard designs used by the Council.
How
long does a registration take?
Usually
the registration process is complete within four months from the
date of receipt of complete application materials.
I
want to register arms for myself, my father, my mother, my sibling,
other family members... How do I do this?
Arms
of family members may be registered with the Council under the same
conditions and with the same requirements as for registering
one’s own individual arms.
Can
the Council help me obtain a grant of arms from Royal Houses and Governments?
The
Council of Arms may assist with obtaining a grant of arms from
various royal houses, reigning and non-reigning, and governments
around the world on a case-by-case basis.
What
do specific symbols in coats of arms mean?
There
are no absolutely meanings of the various symbols used in heraldry.
Some have devised dictionaries of heraldic meanings, but the meanings
are not absolute and often vary from dictionary to dictionary.
Sometimes symbols have special meaning to the armiger or the family.
What
about stores selling “my” coat of arms and/or family name history?
True
family arms are those in countries such as Italy and Germany that
may be borne by certain members of the family equally. Beyond that,
there are no arms that refer to every single person with a certain
surname. The notorious “coat of arms of the Smith family”
is a complete myth. Moreover, in countries in which arms belong to
one single individual, claiming such arms as yours because you share
the same family name is really claiming something that belongs to
another individual.
Do
ladies have to display their armorial bearings on a lozenge?
No.
Ladies may choose to display their arms in one of the following two ways:
1.
On a lozenge, oval, or cartouche, without the helm, mantling, and crest.
or...
2.
As a "full" armorial achievement (with shield, helm,
mantling, and crest).
What
heraldic "augmentations" will the Council of Arms register?
The
Council registers arms according to the way they were granted.
Augmentations to which a registrant has a right may relate to titles
of nobility, ecclesiastical rank, chivalric orders, or religious
orders. Augmentations may be registered regardless of the country of
citizenship of the registrant.
The
following explains some common augmentations:
Augmentations
to the Shield
The
shield may be registered with appropriate marks of augmentation or
additions. For example, some chivalric or religious orders permit a
“chief” of the order, or for the shield to be displayed
upon a cross of the order or surrounded by a rosary. Some orders have
augmentations, such as batons, that are crossed behind the shield.
These may be registered if they were included in the original grant
or the registrant provides evidence of the entitlement to the privilege.
The
Helm(s)
The
heraldic rules regarding helms differ by country. Therefore, the
Council registers helms according to the way they were originally
granted. Some coats of arms also have more than one helm. This occurs
when the armiger has more than one crest.
Supporters
A
frequently seen augmentation is the addition of supporters.
Supporters are usually depictions of heraldic beasts or persons on
both sides of the shield, “supporting” it. These virtually
always indicate nobility or some high distinction. They may be
optionally registered for individuals only if included in the
original grant.
Crowns
or Coronets of Rank and Ecclesiastical Hats or Crowns
Crowns
or Coronets of rank indicating royal or noble status or title may be
included in the registration for those with such titles. Likewise,
ecclesiastical hats may be included in the registration if the
registrant is so entitled by his religious tradition. Far from being
extravagant or inappropriate, the use of crowns and coronets remains
relevant even in democratic societies, such as the United States of
America, due to their importance in historical context. The use of
ecclesiastical hats is a matter of freedom of religion.
Badges
and Insignia of Military Honors, Orders or other Organizations
Badges
or insignia of chivalric orders or nobiliary companies are
registered if they were included in the original grant or the
registrant provides evidence of the entitlement to the privilege. |
