Coats of Arms

[heathers]

Has anyone used the College of Arms to obtain information about the various Coats of Arms which have been allocated to people having their surname ?
Alternatively what is the best way to find this information ?

Sue

[Emjaybee]

There is a Henry de Redford (RYDFORD) in the Surrey Roll.

[heathers]

Thanks for the Redford info.  I dont think my family got as far as Surrey - they seemed to stay in Northumberland.

[Dancing Master]

Coats of Arms were awarded to an individual not to people with the same surname.   these Coats of Arms were able to be passed from the person awarded this to the elder son and so on down the line.  it did not mean that cousins, and everyone of the surname is or was entitled to use those Coats of Arms.  If no elder son to inherit then the Coat of Arms became extinct.


The elder son upon inheritanc would have to apply to the College of Arms to have the matter ratified.

[wolramnibor]

So how does one establish who had the original grant of arms. I have two family branches using the same device. Even more confusing is that If I google the full description it appears to be used by several unconnected families, yet I thought each grant was unique

[stanmapstone]

Welcome to RootsChat
You could contact the College of Arms http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/ and also look at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,254381.0.html

Stan