Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know any decent websites where I can get a copy of my family's crest or coat of arms as I have heard about a few scams going around?

Alison Unless you are entitled to a Coat of Arms (which if you were you would almost certainly know about), then any crests/coats of arms etc would be just made up. Some people like to have these but they aren't authentic. As for surnames, there are lots of reference books on surnames. nell

I think that coats of arms relate to the particular family they are given to only, not anyone who shares that surname. Unfortunately I can't remember where I read this! Sam

As other people have already said you would know if you were entitled to a Coat of Arms. The ones that are sold to you are just shams and have no meaning whatsoever. To find out if you are entitled you can write to: College of Arms Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4BT Website: http(://)www(.)college(-)of(-)arms(.)gov(.)uk(/)Enquiries(.)htm remove brackets. I understand that the cost for the information, positive or negative, is quite expensive. Janet

Thanks for all your info, somehow i very much doubt i'm entitled to such a coat of arms, but thanks anyway

I endorse everything said above. If you go to your local reference library, look for Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, or Burke's Landed Gentry, they have official crests in with who they were granted to and some of the linage. You never know maybe someone in your tree, siblings of great grandparents etc may have been granted one. My gr grandfathers brother was and although we can't claim the crest as our's it is nice to have a copy of it in my album.