Genealogy Chat

I have recently done a bit of reading on this subject and was upset to find that Coats of Arms are as open to the Rubbish factor as anything else in genealogy. However, was also interested to find out that in 1920s, the last female of my ancestral name/ancestral manor, applied to the Court of Heralds for the right to bear the arms, which was granted, and then to the High Court to change her name from her married name back to the ancestral name. This was also granted, but even though she had sons, they do not appear to have carried on either the name or the Arms. Marjorie

Ah but I alredy have a coat of arms. My brother sent of for it years ago. Its about as accurate as a cheep clock with the main spring gone. They did the name as Walker and gave us a family history Ect. Thing is My Dad was adoptied He was a Spence

A slightly unhinged distant cousin in Australia bombarded the College of Arms to revive a baronetcy which became extinct in 1677. Needless to say, he failed. Coats of arms can prove very useful. One ancester, widowed young, remarried and the family subsequently assumed that her second husband was their ancester. An eagle-eyed Victorian antiquary spotted that the coat of arms on her daughter's tomb related to the third son of an entirely different family. Modern research substantiated this with wills I would never have thought of examining. I have never mastered the subject of heraldry and my ancesters were just as capable of adopted arms to which they were NOT entitled (and doubtless were mortified by those lists in which they appear as 'Ignoblis') as anyone buying a keyring with 'the family crest' today. B

Peter I don't want you getting ideas above your station!!!! I might be forced to do a virtual curtsey! nell

Thanks Nell looks like it a non starter The relly in question was the younges dughter and it has still to be confirmed she is the relly i'm looking for.

Just looked in Ancestral Trails by Peter Herber: 'The right to bear a coat of arms in England was granted to a man and his descendants (usually only his descendants in the male line)...each of the grantee's sons (and each of their sons and so on) had a right to the arms, so long as they differentiated their arms (by marks of cadency - see below) from the origial grantee (or from the man from whom that right descended). The right to a coat of arms only passed to a daughter if there where no male heirs, in which case any sons of that daughter could later inherit her right to the arms. Wives, widows and daughters had a courtesy right to display their husband's or father's arms, usually on a lozenge (diamond shape). ...IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A COAT OF ARMS. It is more likely that your descend from such a family is through one or more female lines. It is imporobably that you are entitled to bear a coat of arms if that right is not already known by your immediate family (it would be very unlikely for a family to 'forget' that it had a right to arms). Unfortunately the existence of busineses offering to reveal to you a coat of arms that allegedly belongs to your family has become even more widespread in recent years...' College of Arms Queen Victoria Street London EC4 has extensive archives including original grants of arms, pedigrees etc. These are not open to the public but they can be searched on your behalf for a fee. nell

You need to contact the College of Arms if you think you are entitled. I don't know much about this but I believe it is always handed down to the eldest surviving male heir. If you google 'coat of arms' entitlement lots of sites come up. nell

Peter, If you get a copy of De Bretts ( Peerage) from the local library i believe it lists who is entitled. Off the cuff i would say it passes down direct male line, which is why so many have died out. Best of luck ! Elaine x.

Can any one tell me who is intiteld to bear a coat of arms if one of your Ansestors had them. Dose it just follow down the line for the eldest Boy or can desendets from younger Brothers and sisters have them. Also where is the stop of point. If its any sibling that can bear them then in say 3 or 4 genarations there could be dozens of them are they ALL entitled???? Yes (Not confirmed yet ) it looks like the Wife might have a relly with one.