FAQ

What do you have to offer that is different from other coat of arms sites?

First of all our goal is to bring all of the heraldry related materials from a large selection of resources to one place.  We have incorporated, graphics, historical information, and genealogical information when ever we can. 

Secondly,  we allow the visitor to view the arms that have been completed and added to our collections.  There are no surprises and you do not have to buy first in order to see a design.

Thirdly,  we will not tell you that we have your family coat of arms like other one size fits all web sites.  We present  all of the coats of arms designs we can locate for a given surname along with any and all corresponding and pertinent information.  You can then make an educated decision as to whether or not it is associated to your personal family.

Fourthly, we offer a nominal monthly membership which allows you access to any extended information we were able to uncover. 

Why are there so many “Work in Progress” graphics, and where is the coats of arms pictures for that record?

There is only one person to generate the graphics from the written descriptions.  There are two people who spend a great deal of time putting the information into our database.  We made a decision to post the information as we get it rather than wait to have a graphic generated for it first.  Should you find a description with no graphic and would like to see it posted, you can email us with the record number and we will try and get one posted for you. 

What is a variant and what is its importance?

A variant is an alternative spelling of a surname.  Surnames were recorded under a variety of spellings depending on the time period, the country of origin, and who was doing the recording.  When doing research it is important to know the possible name spelling variants in order to continue backward in your research. 

Why am I only allowed 16 total page views in the galleries?

The answer is bandwidth, pure and simple.  Due to the popularity of the website, our bandwidth is enormous. In order to cut down on the load we have limited the page views in our public area.  If you would like to have access to all of our detail information without limitations, consider buying a membership.  We offer memberships for $4.99 on a month to month basis.

What do the other non arms graphics mean in the galleries and detail pages?

Each graphic indicates what kind of information you can expect to find on the detqils pages.  For a key to the graphics go here:  Key Detail Information.

Do you do genealogical research for hire?

No, it is way too time consuming.  However; if we happen across a lineage or genealogical information related to a coat of arms in our database, you can be sure we will post it on our detail pages.

Can I have you design a custom coat of arms?

Yes, we do custom design work.  For more information, and pricing go to our  page on pricing and how to order custom graphics.

Can a person get a new coat of arms in the United States?

Yes, there is an authority in the United States that will create papers and a grant for a new coat of arms design.  It is the American Heraldry Society and there is a fee for obtaining a grant with them.  We will help you design a new arms in the heraldic tradition that you may submit to them for approval of a grant.

There are so many listings for my surname, how do I know which one is associated with my family?

We will provide you with as much locality and lineage information as possible, it is up to you to do your own genealogical research to make the connection.

How does the Clan Badge and Tartan Association work?

We have cross referenced many, many lists about clan association.  Not all the lists agree with each other.  We have tried  very hard to make associations according to our research materials.  I would look at it in the vein that this particular surname may or might be associated with a particular clan and tartan.  The only way to be sure is to contact the clan organization  and ask them if your family is associated with them as a sept.

ETCHED GLASS