What is the meaning of a coat of arms?

Answer 1

A coat of arms is a symbol, usually painted on an escutcheon (a shield), that represents a country, institution, Royal Personage or member of the noble class. Some coats of arms are painted on an oval or lozenge instead of a shield, because they belong to a noble woman or a member of the clergy, and they were forbidden to fight in the military in medieval society, so they would not use a shield.

Some people confuse the terms coat of arms and crest, thinking that a coat of arms is a "family crest", but in actual fact, a crest is something placed on top of a helmet displayed above the coat of arms. Many people in England passed their crest down the family line, but each person in the family had a different shield, leading to the term "family crest", but in Germany and Scandinavia, the shield would often be passed down the generations without changes while each member of the family had a different crest.

A display of heraldry including other parts around the coat of arms or shield is called an achievement of arms. This includes the escutcheon or shield displaying the coat of arms, a helm (helmet) which is usually wrapped with a torse and draped with a mantle and sometimes surmounted by a coronet of rank (or royal crown for the King or kingdom, imperial crown for the Emperor, or papal tiara for the Pope) and crest, and the shield may or may not be held up by a pair of animals called supporters. The whole thing is sometimes placed upon a sconce or compartment, and sometimes a banner is also displayed, showing a motto or battle cry. Many of these elements began to appear only at the end of the Middle Ages, and each was symbolic of social or governmental status. A wealthy merchant without noble titles might have a coat of arms (and probably a helmet, torse, mantle and crest) but would not have a coronet of rank, supporters, compartment or motto.

Answer 2

A coat of arms is an official set of designs and/or symbols belonging to a particular family, institution or political organisation, including state or territory. These symbols are usually arranged around a shield which identify the ancestry of that family line or institution, and involve emblems or other marks which distinguish the coar of arms from others. For example, a country may adopt symbols which are unique to it, such as native animals or plants. There is usually a motto which embodies what that family or institution stands for, and is often uniquely personal.

Answer 3

All coats of arms used by individuals, as opposed to institutions such as whole countries, are personal because each identifies one and only one individual. They do not identify families. As such, they are "personal coats of arms."

Answer 4

You gremlin peasant you have not ascended high enough within the ranks of society to deserve to know such a sacred piece of information. Please scuttle back to the cave or alleyway from which you came.