coat of arms
Family shield design
A coat of arms is a heraldic design representing a family, institution, or nation—typically displayed on a shield with distinctive colors, symbols, and patterns.
Originally identifying armored knights in battle, coats of arms became hereditary emblems of lineage and status.
Universities, cities, and countries still use them as official symbols: The royal coat of arms appears on British passports.
Heraldic shield notation
- escutcheonShield bearing heraldry
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
- fieldArea of specialty
- chargeCost or accusation
tincture · argent · sable · or · vert · mantling · helm · coronet
Highest point or tuft
- badgeWorn symbol of membership
- insigniaDistinguishing mark of rank
- sealAuthentication stamp or mark
- deviceConstructed tool or machine
sigil · banner · standard · ensign · pennant · medallion · monogram · regalia
Study of family descent
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- family treeChart of ancestors
- pedigreeRecord of descent
dynasty · descent · bloodline · succession · legacy · birthright · house · clan
blazon
Heraldic shield notation
- escutcheonShield bearing heraldry
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
- fieldArea of specialty
charge · tincture · argent · sable · or · vert · mantling · helm · coronet · supporters
crest
Highest point or tuft
device · sigil · banner · standard · ensign · pennant · medallion · monogram · regalia · livery
genealogy
Study of family descent
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- family treeChart of ancestors
pedigree · dynasty · descent · bloodline · succession · legacy · birthright · house · clan · progenitors
peerage
System of noble ranks
earl · marquess · aristocracy · gentry · blueblood · manor · estate · fiefdom · hereditary · royal
knight
Honored mounted soldier
fealty · tournament · squire · quest · champion · jousting · knighthood · crusade · order · dubbing
- city symbolscity seal
- early heraldry historyroyal crests, shields, banners, blazonry, tinctures
- local emblemscrests, shields, state seals
- medieval heraldrycrests, shields, heraldry, insignia, livery
- medieval signstavern sign, shop sign, pub sign, hanging sign, painted sign
- royal customsbowing, curtsying, curtsy, coronation, knighting
coat of armstrade sign
coat of armsbarcode
Encoded product stripes
QR code · serial number · social security number · license plate · biometric data
coat, arms, armor, harness, coating, coated, disarm, overcoat, coats