What is the difference between a family coat of arms and a family crest?
Both are myths, because Coats of arms and the accompanying crests were issued to individuals, not families. Coats of arms started so knights could tell each other apart when they were buttoned up in their suits of armor. They were given to individuals, not families. If, for instance, every knight named Smith used the same coat of arms, there would be a small army riding around with identical shields. It would be as confusing as a basketball game where both sides wore blue and every player was number 12. The eldest legitimate son inherits his father’s Coats of Arms. He passes it on to his eldest legitimate son, and so on; that’s where the myth of a “Family” Coat of arms comes from. Only one person can PROPERLY have a given coat of arms at one time. People who sell T-shirts and coffee mugs, however encourage the gullible to believe Coats of Arms are for a surname.
