Family crests are nothing new but have existed for a very long time. Many families can trace their origins to crests used by their ancestors centuries ago. In medieval times they were used to differentiate families and clans. Even members with different family branches used crests to differentiate the various branches of their family as they were unique identities.
Unfortunately, many people have lost their historical identities and do not know how to trace their way back to their roots. If you are in such a bind, all hope is not lost, as you can still find your family crests. Today, there are online registers and platforms that can come in handy in aiding your search. Although it is true that they are not as popular as they once were, finding your family crest is like undertaking a journey of discovery.
What Is A Family Crest?
The search may lead to the discovery of family members you never knew; you had to uncover information about your ancestry and culture that may help you make sense of certain things or incidents that occurred in times past. But before you commence your search, here are a few things to note:
- They are family representations: A family crest represents the image and identity of a family, so they are not accidental designs. Furthermore, they tell the family's unique story based on their culture, religion, region, and way of life. Suffice it to say that there is a story behind every crest.
- They are granted by nobility: Most of the family crests you sew were granted by nobility during the middle ages to distinguish families. Some crests were issued to families after a member was given a title and ushered into the noble class.
How Family Crests Lose Relevance?
Family crests have lost significance in wider society, unlike in times past, except among the oligarch and the noble class, who continue to occupy the highest positions in the social order. In the United Kingdom, for example, the Gaelic culture came under attack after the English passed laws that removed the Irish from their lands and relocated them to new sites. Due to the forced migration, many families lost connection with their roots.
Another reason why crests lost their relevance is because of the rural-urban migration, which saw many leave their villages and hamlets for big cities. The drift to modernized cities caused many to lose their sense of their cultural and family background.
So now that you know why many people lost sense of their family's crest, what can they do to find it?
How To Find Your Family Crest
Here are some steps you can take to find a long-lost family crest.
Study Official Records
The first place to start is to study official crest records or the Armoury records as it is popularly known. If the records are available online, that's even better. Crests that are cataloged with extra information are easy to find. If they are not online, you will have to visit the registry or library in your city to search manually got them. But bear in mind that you will have to know your family name as it was used in early times.
Use A Professional Genealogist
You can use the services of a professional genealogist for the task. A professional who is an expert can quickly trace your family's lineage back to early times using oral traditions, genetics, historical records, and any other information of relevance. They can use the crest to trace other extended family members to gain more insight into their ancestors. Although you will have to pay for the service, it will be worth the investment.
Ask Older Relatives
By far, the easiest way to find your family crest is to ask your older relatives like grand and great-grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, and the like. While they may not have the crest, they may provide information that will help with your research. Furthermore, older relatives can connect you to other family members who may also help you, so as you expand your circle, you gain more information that will help you uncover more secrets about your ancestry.
Use Heraldry Support
A heraldry society can also be of help to you. These societies design family crests and coat of arms, drawing inspiration from historical designs. They can help you with your search by checking their records if they have any information about your ancestry or contact other societies to check their records. If your family name has none or can not be traced, they can help you design one.
Family crests were designs of prestige, but more than that, they were a unique identity of a group of people. Finding your family's crest is one way to connect back to your roots and learn a thing or two about your family's history and culture. Besides finding the crest, going back in time may uncover some truths you never knew, and these truths can enlighten your present and dictate your future.