HI, my last name is White, and I was researching family crests and came around a "white family crest".
so I wondered, does it become default for my last name or is it only that family's crest... please answer my random question!
2006-12-21 05:56:53 · 9 answers · asked by Matt W. 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
A coat of arms is not used by all who have the same surname. This is something pushed by an industry which makes money off the snobbery factor of selling some poor slob named Jenkins a copy of the coat of arms from some Jenkins family who legitimately has a coat of arms granted.
2006-12-21 06:00:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You have to be able to prove a direct bloodline back to the original family with the original crest.
My adopted Grandfather was a 'Boyd' of Scotland, however since I am not A direct blood line I have no actual claim to the name. I still proudly wear the crest in his Honor but I can not be legitimately called a Boyd. I have even adopted the Tartan as my own. Granted Boyd is a clan name not a heraldic name.
Do some family history, see if you can track down any ancestors who can tie their names to the herald, you might have some digging to do.
At the very least you will have an interesting story to tell.
Best of luck
2006-12-21 06:15:21 · answer #2 · answered by Stone K 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No! Not at all! Anyone who tells you differently is mistaken, and if they are trying to sell you the family crest they are a scam artist!
A Coat of Arms is given to a particular person. It may be passed, either directly or with cadence marks, to that person's heir and/or DIRECT decendents (sons or daughters). The crest, which goes on top of the coat of arms in a full "achievement" (a way to draw a coat of arms) is also granted directly to a particular person.
Every country that practices heraldry has a Soveriegn of Arms who's job it is to look after these things. If you just take a crest (even if your surname happens to be the same) then you are stealing. It's like trademark infringement.
2006-12-21 06:06:44 · answer #3 · answered by Elise K 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Weigand is both German, but it also can be Danish or Swedish. The critical thing is WHERE YOUR ancestor came from. Regardless... the others who explain what family crests really are.. are right. They don't belong to families. One reason for finding so many for "common" names, is pure marketing. Lots of people have those names... lots of people will fall for the scam that the crest shown, belongs to their "name". You would be better off (although it takes time) to do what is real... that is, actually find YOUR FAMILY. I have many files buried, but one of my Hespe relatives had (I believe) a daughter who married a Weigand in North Dakota. If someone in your family recognizes the Hespe name, drop me a note.
2016-03-29 02:45:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 'White' family crest is only representative of the person who had the surname 'White' that, at some point in time, had a crest registered under that name. That crest can be past down to his first born male but must be altered in some way to represent that individual. Therefore, to answer your question, it is not a true representation if you decide to take this crest on your own. This is according to heraldic rules.
HOWEVER that doesn't stop some people from marketing that crest as being representative of the family 'White'. Sometimes you may gain some insight into your predecessors by examing the meanings of the different symbols used in the crest created by for this specific 'White' individual
I've found the following site quite useful in not only answering these questions but providing more insight into heraldry.
Excuse Me, But There's No Such Thing As A Family Crest
http://www.fleurdelis.com/nofamilycrest.htm
About Heraldry
http://www.fleurdelis.com/coatofarms.htm
Symbolism
http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm
White family crest:
http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp/s.White/Origin.SC/sId./qx/coatofarms_details.htm
Heraldic Lines and Ordinaries:
(that jagged black part at the top of the shield)
Dancette Line: Water
Black (Sable): Constancy or grief
Eagle: Person of noble nature, strength, bravery, and alertness; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious; "True magnanimity and strength of mind" acc. to Guillim. If wings "displayed," it signifies protection
Quatrefoil (Primrose): Brings good tidings
Silver or White (Argent) Peace and sincerity
Helm: Not a part of the official blazon, the helmet varies with the bearer's rank, the century represented, or the herald's or artist's preference.
Mantle/Mantling: Not a part of the official blazon (except that sometimes the colors are specified), the design varies with the herald's or artist's preference. This is said to represent the cloth that hung from the wreath and protected the back of the head and neck, even though it may often be depicted more like the leaves of a plant.
The shield is of a 'Continental' design
http://www.fleurdelis.com/shields.htm
History Lesson
http://www.fleurdelis.com/heraldry.htm
Newest Coat of Arm granted in Britain is that of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Notice the rather prominent Boar's Head.
LOL!!!
http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Cornwall.htm
College of Arms: Britain
http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/WhatsNew.htm
Many countries now have their own colleges of heraldry which
will grant individuals with their own, personal coat of arms.
They can be limited to people who have made some kind of notable achievement with their communities BUT perhaps the most limiting factor is their price tags.
The American College of Heraldry
http://www.americancollegeofheraldry.org/
Canadian Heraldic Authority
http://www.gg.ca/heraldry/cha/index_e.asp
Irish Heraldic Authority
http://www.nli.ie/fr_offi2.htm
Other links:
http://genealogy.about.com/od/heraldry/Heraldry_Coats_of_Arms_and_Family_Crests.htm
2006-12-21 06:21:03 · answer #5 · answered by $Sun King$ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is STRICTLY only that family's crest. Technically it is a criminal offense in Great Britain to claim a crest before it had been confirmed by the College of Arms - though it is some centuries before there has been such a case. Disputes are usually settled by the College of Arms these days, and they are very strict in their judgments.
2006-12-21 06:01:17 · answer #6 · answered by Tony B 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
depends upon whether or not you can prove the lineage to the family who was allowed to use the Crest to begin with
2006-12-21 06:56:26 · answer #7 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it doesn't, I am friendly with a person whose name is "White" but he is of Portuguese decent. The name "Blanco", was Anglacized when they came to the US from Portugal.
2006-12-21 11:59:51 · answer #8 · answered by gene m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't buy into European heraldric symbols and customs....most of it is done just to sell merchandise to gullible Americans.
The truth is, the whole concept of heraldry and nobility and by extention royality is probably counter to what you believe as a modern man....that some men by right of blood are better than other men and that they should rule just because of who their father was. Please, let's put all these notions behind us!
2006-12-21 06:07:51 · answer #9 · answered by DJ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋