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Why order a high quality download version?

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Why order a download version?

  • Downloadable orders will normally be with you the same day or within 24-48 hours.
  • No ‘lost in the post’, ‘damaged in the post’, ‘undeliverable’ due to inaccurate postal addresses or postal delays, and no need to wait several days or weeks for orders to arrive internationally (and sometimes within the UK), which can also be delayed by customs and other issues.
  • No added postal or packaging charges.
  • Downloadable orders can be ordered by anyone, anywhere.
  • You are free to print on your own parchment or other lightly patterned paper or photo paper, or display as required, i.e. save a (JPG) copy on a tablet device, computer, or online photo album.
  • A downloadable order is ideal if you’re in a hurry and need it quicker than a printed version would arrive.

The digital download versions are of the same high quality as the print versions. These can be printed at home using an inkjet, colour laser or similar printer. We recommend printing ‘borderless’ on matt photo paper (A4 or US Letter) for best results.

These can also be printed with the outer white border if being framed with a mount by a picture framing shop or service. These can also be printed at a local or online ‘print shop’ or anywhere you can have photos printed at the required size.

Please see our Downloads page for download and printing help and tips.

FAQs Page

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Our frequently asked questions (FAQs) are included below. Should you have any questions not covered here, please see our Help page or feel free to contact us for a quick reply.

Q: How long does it take to process and send an order?

A: Most orders are completed and sent within 1-2 days. Please bear in mind that these products are ‘made to order‘ and are not simply ‘off-the-shelf‘ or ‘ready-made‘ items and may require additional research, so please allow a few days order processing.

Also, please allow several days longer if ordering during our busiest times of the year, especially during November and December. Our website will be updated with more details during particularly busy times.

All products A4 size and below are sent in card-backed envelopes for protection. A3 and 14×11 sizes are sent in a postal tube. We will send you an email as soon as an order has been sent so that you know it’s on its way.

FAQs Thin Line

Q: Which family coat of arms do you use?

A: Heraldry is not an exact science. During the period of early heraldry, the design and images on coats of arms were often granted by heraldic authorities by writing them in the records via the spoken word of the registrant, so these are subject to interpretation.

Some surnames do not have a coat of arms, whereas others may have several or dozens. The normally use the coat of arms most associated with the surname or taken from the oldest known on record where possible (many coats of arms are recorded without place-names or dates).

Regarding surnames, genealogical experts suggest that a surname can have 6-8 spelling variants, with many having 20 or more. However, this is not accurate for coats or arms because many of the name variants will have their own distinct coats of arms registered. So this is also taken into account allowing us to use the best or most accurate coat of arms for the surname provided.

Also, please bear in mind that coats of arms are granted to individuals, and not to the actual surnames. It is, however, considered acceptable to display a coat of arms that was granted to someone with whom you share your surname with.

FAQs Thin Line

Q: Can I choose my own coat of arms?

A: The coats of arms (sometimes called a ‘family crest’) that we use are normally based on the coat of arms most associated with the surname. Many surnames have more than one coat of arms associated with it (some have dozens), so if there’s one in particular that you’ve seen that you would like us to use, please send us an image or an accurate description and we should be able to create this for you.

It’s not currently possible to include preview images of coats of arms bearing in mind that there are more than 60,000 coats of arms recorded in “Burke’s General Armory” alone! This is a leading source created in 1842 and updated in 1884 by Sir Bernard Burke, King of Arms to Queen Victoria. Also, these are all recorded as text (not images) in the form of a ‘heraldic blazon‘, which is a description of the arms, crest and motto (if recorded).

If you would like to see a preview image before ordering we can email you an attachment if we have already created an image for the coat of arms, or send you a description.

Please note that we do not ‘grant‘ or ‘register‘ coats of arms, but provide products displaying coats of arms for almost any surname where a coat of arms has previously been properly registered or granted.

FAQs Thin Line

Q: How much is postage and where do you send to?

A: We normally send orders by First Class post within the UK and by Airmail to destinations outside of the UK. Please refer to each of the product’s pages for specific information (normally towards the bottom of the page). Also, please check our Order Terms page for additional information.

FAQs Thin Line

Q: Can I buy these products anywhere else?

A: We create and sell these products ourselves from our own websites and some of our products are listed by us on other major websites such as Amazon and eBay. The surname history and coats of arms products are unique to us, so they are not created by other suppliers.

Feel free to contact us with any other questions not covered here or within our Help pages.

Links

What is a Coat of Arms?

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Elements of a Coat of Arms or Family Crest

At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour.

A coat of arms or ‘coat-armour‘ (sometimes ‘incorrectly‘ called a ‘family crest‘) is made up of the following elements as shown in the image above:

Crest: This is the smaller image that sits on the ‘torse‘ above the ‘helmet‘ (or ‘helm‘).

Shield: This is the main part of the coat of arms containing the charges (images), layout and colours. The shield is also called an ‘escutcheon‘ and ‘arms‘.

Motto: A motto (if recorded) will normally appear on the banner above the crest and is usually recorded in Latin, French, Welsh, Gaelic or English.

Surname: The surname of the person the coat of arms was granted to will normally appear on the banner at the bottom of the coat of arms (family crest).

Charge or Charges: These are the images appearing on the shield. A smaller image placed on another image will use the word ‘charged‘, for example, “an eagle displayed proper ‘charged’ with a gold crescent on the chest“.

Chief: This is used to describe the upper area of the shield.

Base: The base is the lower area of the shield.

Torse: The ‘torse‘ or ‘wreath‘ is a twisted roll of fabric comprising of six parts with alternating colours to match the mantle (i.e. silver and blue). The torse sits directly on the helmet below the crest.

Helmet: This is a knight’s helmet (also called a ‘helm‘ or ‘peer’s helm‘) and is placed above the shield bearing the torse and crest.

Mantle: The mantle (or ‘mantling‘) is an ornamental drapery used to display the shield and helmet which makes up the coat of arms image. The mantle colours should be one of the main colours (tinctures – see below) with one metallic colour (silver or gold) – not two metallic colours together or two main colours together – and will match the alternating colours used on the torse.

Dexter: This is the right side of the coat of arms from the bearer’s point of view.

Sinister: This is the left side of the coat of arms from the bearer’s point of view.

Some coats of arms include ‘supporters‘ shown on either side of the shield. Please note that these are not included with our coats of arms images.

Colours (Tinctures) Used in Heraldry

The colours used in heraldry for the main colours on the shield, torse, and mantle are made up of five colours (tinctures) and two metallic colours. These are:

Argent (Silver): This is silver or silvery white and is one of the two metal tinctures. “Ar.” is the abridged version of Argent. The precious stone associated with Argent is Pearl and the planet Luna.

Or (Gold): This is the gold tincture and the other metallic colour used. “Or” is how this appears in heraldic blazons. The precious stone associated with Or is Topaz and the planet Sol.

Sable (Black): “Sa.” is the abridged version of Sable. This tincture is associated with the precious stone Diamond and the planet Saturn.

Gules (Red): “Gu.” is the abridged version of Gules. This tincture is associated with the precious stone Ruby and the planet Mars.

Azure (Blue): “Az.” is the abridged version of Azure. This tincture is associated with the precious stone Sapphire and the planet Jupiter.

Vert (Green): “Vert” is how this appears in heraldic blazons. This tincture is associated with the precious stone Emerald and the planet Venus.

Purpure (Purple): “Purp.” is the abridged version of Purple. This tincture is associated with the precious stone Amethyst and the planet Mercury. Purple is rarely used in heraldry.

The word ‘proper‘ is used in heraldry to mean the natural colour of something. For example, ‘a salmon proper‘ would be the natural salmon colours of silver and pink, or ‘a bear proper‘ would typically be shown as brown or black.

Links

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Heraldry Coats of Arms (Family Crests), First and Last Names (Surnames) History, Origin and Meaning

We have included below some useful links related to heraldry, Coats of Arms, first and last names (surnames) history, origin and meaning.

Heraldry, Name History & Coats of Arms Websites