Family crests

[behindthefrogs]

None of the standard works that I have access to have any record of an Allenby crest.  This is usually a good indication that no Allenby was granted a coat of arms.

[Graham47]

What about this guy?
No relation though 


Allenby, Viscount (UK, 1919)
 
Creation: let. pat. 7 Oct 1919
 
Family name: Allenby

Arms:

Per bend Argent and Gules in the sinister three Crescents two and one of the second and in the dexter three Horses' Heads erased one and two of the first all within a Bordure azure
Crest:

Issuant out of a Crescent Gules a Demi-Lion proper
Supporters:
Dexter:  a Horse reguardant Or;  Sinister:  a Camel reguardant Argent
Motto:
Fide Et Labore (With faith and work)

[KGarrad]

If you are a direct descendant of Viscount Allenby, then you may be able to use the arms.

If you aren't directly related (via the male line) then you have no right to use the arms.

Read the first FAQ at http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Faq.htm

[Graham47]

Having read a bit of his biography, I think I'd rather go with the Apples and leaves of Appleby 

[blacksmith]

The straight answer to your question is that the commercial companies who try to sell you goods bearing these coats of arms want you to be able to see them without the ability to reproduce them.

It is extremely worrying that some of them try to sell you "a crest" when they are actually offering a shield taken from a coat of arms.  Unfortunately in the USA the word crest seems to be used for almost any part of a coat of arms.  There is a lot less of a problem with you using a crest if this is what you intend, as the same crest will be found in many coats of arms.

A coat of arms is a combination of shield, upon which are the arms; a mantle, the feathered cloth which represents the sun cloth at the rear of a helmet, and the helm or headgear, upon which may be a crest.  This is a distinguishing element which may also be found on the field of arms.

[stanmapstone]

You can see a labelled illustration of a full achievement of arms at   
www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Achievement.htm

Stan

[davidbappleton]

A coat of arms is a combination of shield, upon which are the arms; a mantle, the feathered cloth which represents the sun cloth at the rear of a helmet, and the helm or headgear, upon which may be a crest.  This is a distinguishing element which may also be found on the field of arms.

Actually, a "coat of arms" is the shield alone, with the colors and charges on it.  An "achievement of arms" is the shield, helm, mantling, torse (or crest coronet), crest, and motto (and in some cases, coronet of rank, compartment, and supporters).

David

[nigelpaige]

I have noticed that the attribution of Crests, Coats of Arms and Origins of family names by the many commercial companies offering to provide shields etc. seems to be complete nonsense... the crest my family has used for the last 200 years at least and confirmed by the relevant books, which was derived from our french family of origin, never appears on the commercial websites which erroneously assume that PAIGE is merely an alternative of PAGE which I know is not the case.  people should be warned off these scammers

[KGarrad]

You need to read CAREFULLY what is written on those websites!

Invariably it says something like "Crest associated with your surname", which is probably true, but has no proven link to your own particular family.

My own avatar (left) is taken from an extinct line, attributed to a John Garrad in the 17th Century.

It's just as likely, or unlikely, to be mine as any from a commercial site!!