How do i find out what my family crest is?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as a 'coat of arms for a surname'. Many people of the same surname will often be entitled to completely different coats of arms, and many people with that surname will be entitled to no coat of arms. Coats of arms belong to individuals. For any person to have a right to a coat of arms they must either have had it granted to them or be descended in the legitimate male line from a person to whom arms were granted or confirmed in the past.
It is a popular misconception that the term 'crest' describes a whole coat of arms. It does not. A crest is a specific part of a full achievement of arms: the three-dimensional object placed on top of the helm. The helm and crest are not always shown in depictions of coats of arms. It is not possible for somebody to have a crest without having a coat of arms.

There has recently been a spate of shops, organizations and websites selling heraldic plaques and other items purporting to represent coats of arms associated with a specific surname. Their sources are unofficial, unreliable and outdated printed works of reference, which are far from comprehensive and contain numerous errors and omissions.

Answer 2

Sorry to burst your bubble, but more than likely, you don't have a family crest.

There are many sites that offer 'family crest's and the like for your surname and are happy to sell you all sorts of junk emblazoned with the same, however, these sites have no basis in heraldry.

The ONLY way you have a 'family crest' is if you are a direct male line descendant of someone who had a legal right to the crest at issue. For instance, if your paternal great-grandfather was knighted and given a crest, you would have the legal right to that crest.

Just because someone with your last name had a crest gives you absolutely no right to that crest - it is no more 'yours' then a house belonging to someone with your last name is your house.

Answer 3

www.houseofnames.com