O Connor from Mayo family crest

[benchurian]

I have come across many different coats of arms and crests for the O Connor family. I believe my family comes from Mayo, they were certainly there in the 18th century.  Any reliable source that could identify the proper coat of arms?

[behindthefrogs]

Strictly there is no such thing as a family coat of arms.  A coat of arms can only be claimed as a result of direct descent from a bearer of arms.  Usually this is only by direct descent down the male line, although younger sons can use standard variations.

If you can prove your descent from an O'Connor line that had a coat of arms, there is a very remote chance that you may be entitle to use a specific one.  Don't be confused by the commercial companies who try to sell you one based on having the same or a similar surname.

[iluleah]

Coats of Arms are never issued to families; they are issued to individuals. Coats of arms are issued by Heralds and there are different Heralds in each country in the UK and in Europe. A coat of arms is granted by the King of Arms in England and in Ireland, so it is property of an individual, not their family and a crest is only the top part of the Arms

The US has never accepted the concept of nobility and therefore has no officially-recognised Heralds. Several US organisations claim to be able to issue coats of arms but any such arms issued by a US organisation have to be considered as "unofficial." and scam merchants selling 'copies' of others peoples property have made a big business out of this, selling other peoples property and making claim it 'belongs to a surname' is fraud, they get away with it as the people buying have no idea they are being scammed and the USA don't have laws in place to stop it. There is no official issuing body in the U.S. Most Americans who wish to obtain legitimate coats of arms apply first in the name of a foreign-born ancestor with the Heralds in the country where that ancestor lived. The American descendant may then apply to use the ancestor's coat of arms as his own as his "inherited right to arms." IF the Heralds award it.

[benchurian]

Ok, I believe you are (correctly) making the distinction between a coat of arms and a crest.  Is there such a thing as a family crest?  If so is there one for the family or sept as I believe it's called?

[behindthefrogs]

In Scotland any member of the clan is entitled to wear the clan badge, often refered to as the family crest.  This consists of the crest of the clan leader within a strap and buckle on which is written the motto from his coat of arms,  The number of feathers on top of the badge indicates rank within the clan, three for the clan head or a peer, two for a chieftan.  The clan head was also entitled to include a golden crown in his crest that would appear on top of his personal badge beneath the feathers.

However all of the above applies to Scotland and not to England or Northern Ireland.  I am not sure of the rules imposed by the Chief Herald of Ireland from his office in Kildare Street, Dublin.  The functions were transferred in 1943 and so are not very likely to differ from the English ones.

[iluleah]

Ok, I believe you are (correctly) making the distinction between a coat of arms and a crest.  Is there such a thing as a family crest?  If so is there one for the family or sept as I believe it's called?

These are no more than 'club memberships' designed for the insatiable American market and because the American traders are making so much money selling 'club badges' and pretending they are anything to do with 'clans' or 'tribes' which in Ireland was hundreds of years ago, they didn't have badges, crests or anything else they were more concerned with fighting, bringing up their families and providing them with enough food and you will not find the Irish walking around claiming they are of some 'clan'..... but because the American scam merchants have used this even the Irish government has set up a company which gives sells you 'real' certificates of Irish Heritage......... as the money is better off spent in Ireland than across the other side of the world.
http://www.heritagecertificate.com/

[heywood]

I think you are being a bit harsh on the poster,  iluleah. Some people think they are a nice link to a family name - nothing more.
We were bought a little family crest in Ireland in 1961 - long before the American market took hold, I would imagine.
I have seen these crests in Irish family homes when they were given on marriage - again just as a symbol of the names.

regards
heywood

[behindthefrogs]

Heywood, are you talking about a reproduction of a shield taken from a coat of arms, or of the complete coat of arms or of the crest which is found on top of the helmet in a coat of arms?

Individuals often had their crest engraved on personal items like spoons, cigarette cases etc. because it was smaller and hence easier than the complete coat of arms.

I agree with iluleah that if we are serious about genealogy we should be discouraging the misuse of the word crest and the adoption of coats of arms by those who are not entitled to them.
 

[benchurian]

Point taken.  Yes I use the uprooted tree as my "emblem" but probably do so because of the commercialisation of crests as you have described.  It's a popular thing to do when you are into genealogy but probably something I should reconsider.  Thank you for your forthright answers.