How To Design Your Own Family Crest (+History & Meaning)

16 May, 2025

Ever wondered if you're secretly descended from royalty, or if your family boasts a lineage worthy of a coat of arms? The quest to uncover your family's history and potentially design a family crest is a fascinating journey into the past, connecting you to generations who came before.

The concept of a family crest, often intertwined with the idea of a coat of arms, has a rich history rooted in heraldry. These emblems, traditionally unique to a family or individual, served as identifiers, particularly during medieval times. Imagine knights on the battlefield, distinguished not by name tags but by the symbols emblazoned on their shields. Over time, the use and understanding of these symbols evolved, leading to the more general concept of a family crest. While a true coat of arms carries a specific legal weight, the term "family crest" is often used more loosely today to represent a symbol or design that a family identifies with.

Category	Information
Name	James Crown
Occupation	CEO of Henry Crown & Co.
Family	Grandson of the patriarch of the Crown family
Date of Death	July 2023
Cause of Death	Car accident
Location of Death	Aspen racetrack
Age at Death	70
Family Business	Henry Crown & Co.
Generation	3rd generation heir
Other Family Members Involved in Business	Patricia Crown
Company Focus	Expert money managers at family office
Additional Information	Family passed billions to children
Reference Link	Chicago Business

So, how does one go about creating or discovering their family crest? The traditional route involves tracing your genealogy to see if your family was ever granted a coat of arms. This is where things can get a bit complex. In many countries, particularly in the United Kingdom, the legal right to use a coat of arms is granted by a heraldic authority, such as the King of Arms. This means simply having the same last name as someone with a coat of arms doesn't automatically give you the right to use it. It has to be officially granted to you or proven through direct lineage.

However, the process of tracing your family history can be an adventure in itself. There are numerous genealogical services and resources available to help you delve into your past. These services can assist you in researching historical records, census data, and other documents to uncover your ancestry. If you have European heritage, the likelihood of finding a coat of arms associated with your family increases.

But what if you discover that your family doesn't have a historically documented coat of arms? Don't despair! This is where the more modern interpretation of a family crest comes into play. You can create your own! This allows you to design a symbol that represents your family's values, characteristics, and history. The design process can be a fun and creative way for your family to bond and express its identity.

When creating your own family crest, there are several elements to consider. The shield, often the central component, can be chosen based on family characteristics. Different shapes and divisions of the shield can have symbolic meanings. Then there are the charges the images or icons placed on the shield. These can be anything from animals and plants to objects and symbols, each carrying its own significance. Choose icons that resonate with your family's story.

A crown on a family crest is a powerful symbol, deeply rooted in heraldry and representing concepts such as victory, sovereignty, and empire. It acts as a visual declaration of success and achievement, embodying the highest levels of rank and power. The specific design of the crown itself can convey additional meaning. For instance, the queen's crown, also known as the royal crown, is often depicted with depressed arches, while the king's crown, or imperial crown, features arches that rise to the center. Examples of these can be seen in the crowns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII.

Beyond the shield and its charges, other elements can add depth to your family crest. A motto, a short phrase that encapsulates your family's ethos, can be placed below the shield. Colors also play a significant role, with each color having its own traditional association. Red, for example, often represents courage, while blue symbolizes loyalty. Think carefully about the symbolism you want to convey and choose your colors accordingly.

Traditionally, family crests stemmed from heraldic arms, also known as coat of arms or armorial bearings. These emblems were more than just decorative designs; they were legal identifiers, subject to strict rules and regulations. Understanding this historical context can enrich your appreciation for the symbolism and significance of family crests.

The term "family crest" has, over time, become somewhat interchangeable with "coat of arms." However, the distinction remains important, especially if you're embarking on a quest to uncover your family's existing heraldic symbols. Knowing the difference can help you navigate the world of genealogy and heraldry more effectively. A true coat of arms is a specific, legally recognized symbol, while a family crest can be a broader term encompassing any design that represents a family.

It's also important to be aware of the different types of families and their associated terminology. The term "imperial family" appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, while "papal family" refers to the family of a pope. Terms like "baronial family," "comital family," "ducal family," "archducal family," "grand ducal family," or "princely family" are used to describe the relatives of reigning barons, counts, dukes, archdukes, grand dukes, or princes, respectively.

The British royal family provides a fascinating example of a modern royal family. Their history stretches back centuries, and their roles have evolved over time. Understanding the line of succession, the benefits they bring to the British economy, and the arguments for and against the monarchy can offer valuable insights into the dynamics of royal families in general.

Government provides the royal household a monetary allotment called the sovereign grant. The money in the grant is a percentage of the surplus revenue from the crown estate, an extensive real estate portfolio belonging to the crown. The portfolio's profits mainly come through annual appreciation and farming. The queen crown also refer to as the royal crown is made with depressed arches. The king crown also called the imperial crown, has arches that rise to the centre. Good examples to support are queen victoria and king edward vii crowns. A royal family typically includes the spouse of the reigning monarch, surviving spouses of a deceased monarch, the children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and paternal cousins of the reigning monarch, as well as their spouses. A royal family is the immediate family of a king or queen regnant, and sometimes his or her extended family.

Regardless of whether you find a historical coat of arms or create your own family crest, the process is about connecting with your family's past, present, and future. It's about defining what makes your family unique and celebrating that identity. Family, in its essence, is a group of individuals united by bonds of marriage, blood, or adoption, forming a single household and interacting within their respective social roles as spouses, parents, children, and siblings. Family is what you make it to be.

Today, family structures are more diverse than ever before. Around 40 percent of children are not raised in a nuclear family. Plus, we all know that friends can make a family. A family can take many forms and it can be organized in different ways.

Consider the value of family heirlooms and traditions. A family picture might be more valuable to a widow than the million dollar house in which she lives. Grace is an extremely valuable commodity. He who owns the universe, doesnt care about another diamond; He cares about the soul whom he loves.

So, enjoy your new family crest! Right click on your mouse to save your new family crest. Be a heraldry designer and family crest maker. Create and draw heraldic shields, coats of arms, sigils, and banners. Use our free random coat of arms generator. With the royal portrait generator, amaze your friends, family, and followers by sharing your transformed royal likeness. Its perfect for personal amusement, creating a powerful profile picture, or giving your loved ones a royal makeover.

If you have a lot of family photos, you could even make a photo collage of your family. Be sure to ask an adult for help before using any photos! When your family portrait is complete, hang it somewhere in your home for the whole family to appreciate.

To further explore the complexities of family dynamics, consider the work of scholars like Dr. Alan Booth and Dr. Paul R. Amato. Dr. Amato, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University, was president of the NCFR board of directors from 2013 through 2015. The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is the oldest nonprofit, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary professional association focused solely on family research, practice, and education. Their research provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of families and the factors that contribute to their well-being.

And for a different perspective on family, explore literature and film that celebrate the power of familial bonds. Readers will fall in love with this lyrical, whimsical ode to families and the common thread that creates them all. Consider also "2001 1 hr 32 min" A heartwarming true story about a mother who is stricken with a fatal disease, and her partners journey to.

Ian Jenkins, M.D., is an associate professor of medicine at the University of California at San Diego. He is the author of Three Dads and a Baby.

In conclusion, understanding and appreciating your family, whether it be through creating a crest or discovering their existing crest, is a rewarding experience. So make a family picture, portrait, or collage. Do anything to appreciate what family is.

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