[Canadaka]

I randomly decided to look for my family Coat of Arms or Crest. I had seen it when I was a kid, but not recently. All the stupid family crest or family history sites charge money, bastards. If anyone knows a good free resource?

Anyway I found my family Crest, a couple variations, an English one and Irish one.

And here is my last names history "MAY"

Quote:

The may family name dates back to 1066 when the Norman Conquest of England introduced a plethora of new names and words into Britain. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person born or baptized in the month of May. The name may is derived from the Old French word mai, which has cognates in the other European languages that were all derived from the Latin word Maius. This name was also a nickname for a person with a particularly sunny disposition or a person who had an anecdotal connection with the month of May. Often this connection would be the time that feudal obligations were owed. Nicknames, such as may, that described the time or season of the birth, baptism or conversion of the original bearer were frequently adopted in the medieval era. Additionally, numerous nicknames referred to various religious festivals, medieval name days, or the particular day of the week when feudal services were fulfilled.

Spelling variations of this family name include: May, Mai, Maye and others.First found in Sussex where they were anciently seated as Lords of the manor of Faunt.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peter Maye who settled in the Bay of Bulls, Newfoundland, in 1675; Dorothy May arrived on the "Mayflower" in 1620; Cornelius May arrived in Virginia in 1616.

So this thread is dedicated for people to post there family Coat of Arms.

[stratos]

cool coat of arms, I looked for one on my last name (greek), moms maiden name (german) found nothing then went to my great grandmothers name and finaly found a coat of arms for Hawkins. Though I do not know if I have any direct line to that particular one. I'll try and find it again but man that was like an hour's search 2 years ago.

[Regina]

I'm from Scottish stock so there's no problem finding a coat of arms for my family. In fact there are too many to pick from on my mom's side. I'm a direct descendent of Flora MacDonald so there's quite a tourist trade on her name and along with it, things like a coat of arms.
http://scotlandvacations.com/flora.htm

[camerontech]

The rugged west coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancestral home of the Cameron family. The Cameron Clan was described as 'Fiercer than fierceness itself' and it was reputed to be one of the most ancient clans of Scotland. The hereditary name of the chiefs of the Clan is MacDhomnuill Duibh, from their ancestor "Black Donald." The first assured chief of the clan was not found until 1411, when Donald Du reigned in that year. Following this date, the clan split into three separate branches, one each at Letterfinlay, Strone and Glen Nevis, with the clan seat at Lochaber.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the group who arrived on the ships, the "Sarah" and the "Dove" in Upper Canada in 1801; their holds filled with 700 Camerons and Frasers from the Lochaber country. The Camerons also settled in the U.S.A. in Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, St. Christopher, Virginia, New York, Georgia, and California, in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Newfoundland, Alexander Cameron settled in St. John's in 1744.




I looked this up to find the crest and saw the part about them coming to upper canada in 1801. My grandparents had always told me that our ancestors had settled here in 1801, now I know what ship they came in....learn something about yourself everyday

[GreatBriton]

A few months ago I also found my family's Coat of Arms.

Thankfully, being English, my surname - Battersby - is an English name derived from my Anglo-Saxon ancestors. Apparently, some guy called Bothvarr once lived in a town that became known as Battersby - meaning "Bothvarr's town" in Old English. My ancestors once lived in that town hundreds of years ago and took its name.




Origin Displayed: English

The name Battersby is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived the place named Battersby in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Battersby Township was in the parish of Ingleby Greenbow. The place-name is derived from an Old English word denoting Bothvarr's town.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Battersby, Battersbee, Battersbie, Batterby, Batterbee and many more.First found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

I can't copy the crest onto here but it's on this website - http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/qx ... t-arms.htm

[GreatBriton]

GreatBriton wrote:

A few months ago I also found my family's Coat of Arms.

Thankfully, being English, my surname - Battersby - is an English name derived from my Anglo-Saxon ancestors. Apparently, some guy called Bothvarr once lived in a town that became known as Battersby - meaning "Bothvarr's town" in Old English. My ancestors once lived in that town hundreds of years ago and took its name.


Origin Displayed: English

The name Battersby is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived the place named Battersby in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Battersby Township was in the parish of Ingleby Greenbow. The place-name is derived from an Old English word denoting Bothvarr's town.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Battersby, Battersbee, Battersbie, Batterby, Batterbee and many more.First found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

I can't copy the crest onto here but it's on this website - http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/qx ... t-arms.htm

[Blue_Nose]

English only?

[Blue_Nose]

Heraldry is actually quite a fascinating field - you'll find that people take it very seriously, and it's quite an effective method of communication, as almost everything has significance in traditional heraldry, from colours to patterns to symbols. A lot of car companies, universities, etc, make up fake coats of arms and crests just to be cool, and it's often easy to spot the madeup ones.

Marshalling is the process by which one or more arms are combined, to signify the union of two families, etc. That's why you'll see the arms split in half or in quarters with different patterns - each side represents a family or individual, and the combination also signifies the details of the union.

As you can see here,, it can get carried away at times!!

[longlostirishman]

Thought I'd jump in here, somewhat late. Just want to point out that there is, in fact, no such thing as a "family" coat of arms in either English or Scottish heraldry. Arms were/are given to individuals, not families.

So, watch out for places such as houseofnames and many others, they are known by serious students of heraldry as "bucket shops".

[Blue_Nose]

longlostirishman wrote:

Thought I'd jump in here, somewhat late. Just want to point out that there is, in fact, no such thing as a "family" coat of arms in either English or Scottish heraldry. Arms were/are given to individuals, not families.

Sorry, that was a slip on my part.

Crests, however, are designated to families - for example, the "Stand Fast" crest I posted above.

The burning hills represent the clan chief, while the belt surrounding it signifies that it represents a member of that chief's family.

Thanks for the clarification!

[longlostirishman]

Quote:

Crests, however, are designated to families - for example, the "Stand Fast" crest I posted above.

Not really. The crest forms an essential part of almost all Arms. In Scottish Heraldry the Clan Chief's Crest is merely "loaned" to clan members. The belt around the Clan Crest is meant to show an individual being bound to the Clan and therefore, the Clan Chief.

Irish Heraldry is somewhat different as rules regarding the use of an individuals Arms are "looser". Any individual who is a direct male descendant of the first Armiger has the right to use the entire Arms. In reality, due to heavy English influence, most indivuals would never think of doing this. So most "Chiefs of the Name" in Ireland have done what the Scottish Chiefs did, allow "clan" members the use of the Crest.

[Arctic_Menace]

Here are those of all related families...


.

[GreatBriton]

The crests of the Royals.



This is the Coat of Arms of the Royal Family. It's also Britain's national Coat of Arms.

This is slightly off-topic, but each English county also has its own elaborate crest.

Here are some -



Bedfordshire


Dorset


South Yorkshire


Cumbria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_En ... ts_of_arms