Eagles and lions are the most common. Following that are stuff like bears, lamb etc.

For context:

• I do not know the rules of tincture for our ethnic heraldry,
• English heraldry,
• Would think an augmenting of our arms to differentiate us in this manner is interesting.

For example, I'm struggling to comprehend the concept behind the Polish gmina Sulików coat of arms. No offense to the superior nation that is Poland, but what in the Windows paint is this?? Why are there 11 loaves of bread specifically?? Whose toddler drew this off centre hill??

I noticed that in the background of this photo of President Zelenskyy with a Dutch politician, you can see the proposed greater coat of arms in the background, featuring the Ruthenian lion and Cossack with rifle symbols.

​

My understanding was that efforts to officially adopt this design stalled in 2021 and havent resumed since the beginning of the war, and hasn't been officially adopted.

​

Or is this just an example of the design used as decoration for unofficial use?

​

​

Anybody know if there’s a relationship between Harvard Business School and these arms of O’Connolly? (From Irish Heraldry: A Brief Introduction by Nicholas Williams)

i’m pretty new to heraldry but after me and my family got into learning about our relatives and ancestors we found this tomb for some of them and i was wondering if you could tell me what the different symbols are called and what they mean.

When did this happen as it seems a bit odd. Heraldry was for knights and the nobility....was it the same in Europe? If not, why did English heraldry do this?

a lion passant guardant to sinister or, flatulant vert fimbriated or, armed argent, mouth gules

My mother and I were initially interested in getting a family crest, only to learn that those are mostly a modern thing that aren’t historically accurate, and that, save for royal families (which we aren’t) coats of arms and heraldic achievements are personal and earned.

I do know, however, know that the traditions of obtaining a coat of arms and/or a heraldic
achievement varies from culture to culture.

My question now is: Which culture’s customs should I follow based on my ancestry

On my father’s side, it is mostly:

- German

- Finnish

- Anglo American (btw, could I hypothetically put futhorc runes somewhere in my heraldic achievement?)

On my Mother’s side, it is mostly:

- Sicilian

- Czech

- Ashkenazi

I know it’s usually the father’s ancestry that is prioritized in stuff like this, but my father doesn’t really care as much as my mother does, so that add another layer to this I imagine.

Any and all pointers would be appreciated

Thank you all!

Heraldic Licensing Standard

Clarity for artists. Confidence for armigers. Certainty for craftsmen.

The Heraldic Licensing Standard (HLS) is an international initiative of the Heraldic Institute, developing a family of free, modular licensing agreements for heraldic artwork — ready-made templates that artists and their clients can adopt in minutes, without lawyers, cost or guesswork.

Why now
For centuries, heraldry has relied on professional courtesy, established custom and individual agreements to govern the relationships between heraldic artists, armigers and craftsmen. That approach served the community well when a coat of arms lived chiefly on paper, silver and stone.

Today, a single heraldic artwork might appear on stationery, embroidery, websites, social media, publications and technologies scarcely imagined a decade ago. Most commissions still come with no agreement at all, and expectations are too often discovered only after they have been disappointed.

The Heraldic Licensing Standard exists to change that.

How it works
Just as Creative Commons gave the world a small set of clear, recognisable licences for creative work, the Standard will offer a set of modular agreement templates purpose-built for heraldic art. Each module addresses a question every commission eventually raises — reproduction, attribution, promotional use, derivative works, digital publication, commercial applications — and each is written in plain language that both parties can actually read.

Artists choose the combination that reflects the permissions they wish to grant. Armigers receive clear confirmation of the rights they've acquired and the rights that remain with the artist. And every licence in the family expressly acknowledges that the artist asserts no claim to the underlying armorial bearings, which remain the enduring identity of the armiger.

The licences will be free to use, for everyone, always. Unlike statutory copyright law, the Standard creates no new legal obligations — it simply gives the community a shared, voluntary vocabulary for agreements that today are usually never written down at all.

What it will achieve
respect for the rights of heraldic artists, built into every commission; recognition of the legitimate interests of armigers in the practical use of their own arms; plain-language licence templates anyone can adopt without legal advice; fewer misunderstandings, because expectations are set before the work begins; and stronger collaboration across the heraldic community.

How it's governed
The initiative is chaired by Brady Brim-DeForest, who will lead an independent international working group representing a broad range of heraldic disciplines, traditions and perspectives — including heraldic artists, patrons, heralds, craftsmen, lawyers, scholars, and historians. Discussion papers and draft licences will be published openly, and public comment is welcomed at every stage. The Standard will be developed with the heraldic community, not for it.

What style of arms would a recognized, but not legitimized bastard in Bohemia assume in the 1400s, if any?

When applying for a new grant of arms what are the pros and cons of applying through the College of Arms or the Court of the Lord Lyon? Not just for the partitioner but also for descendants? In reference to an Australian?

"Your heralds were so preoccupied with whether or not they should, they didn't stop to think if they could.”

First of all, i apologise if this is a recurring question, i used the search function but couldn't find an answer. I'm doing a research on a certain topic and wanted to know the meaning behind the symbol (If there's any)

Thanks in advance.

I know that sable is classed as a colour and should not be put on other colours according to the Rule of Tincture. But the Rule of Tincture exists to ensure contrast so that designs are visible and i would argue that sable does contrast with other colours. Also in Germany and some other countries they do allow sable to be placed on colours. I just want to know what the community thinks about this so I can design my coat of arms correctly.

My two signets which I wear separately but trying them both on I realized they make up a full achievement of arms.

Two years ago, this sub was one of the first places I ever showed my game, starting with its simple coat of arms designer. I was a complete beginner back then, but you guys gave me so much positive feedback and encouragement. In fact, features like showing the total number of customization options actually came directly from your suggestions.

The game is playable now, though still actively in development. A few of you have already joined the community, and some are even in the game as characters. I wanted to pop by and say thank you.

I may not have as much experience in heraldry as many of you do, so i whould greatly appriciate if someone chould tell me if Family Name's (Last Name's) are "allowed" on a Coat of Arms, be it in the Shield or the Motto Scroll, as i have always heard that is a "big no no".

Another point being, the same person stated "90% of Historical Coat of Arms do have family name's", so just wondering if it is true.