The History of Heraldry

Heraldry in its broad meaning traditionally had to do with the functions of a herald. That is one whose duty it was to announce tournaments, to carry messages from one manor to another and to record the various insignia borne by individuals. Heraldry arose almost spontaneously in Medieval Europe around the 12th century, coinciding with the development of armor, around the time of the crusades.

Practical Origins:

In battle, a knight clad in armor from head to toe would barely recognize friend from foe. Imagine if you will a warrior's face invisible behind closed helmets, and you may well appreciate why a new method of instant recognition became necessary. In addition changes in methods of waging war also demanded instant recognition. This resulted in distinctive Insignia being painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, which were the only means by which the warrior could be identified. It is generally accepted that these innovations led to the beginnings of heraldry.

A Movement Towards Recognition:

The insignia thus adopted soon became jealously guarded and objects of pride. A son would inherit his father's markings and carry them into battle with pride. After a battle or campaign, the knight would return to his castle and the vassal to his modest home and each would hang his shield or helmet on the wall. The helmet was positioned above the shield. A friend brought the belongings of those who had died in battle back, and the scene was repeated in every humble cottage and magnificent abode. Heraldry, as we know it, had come into being.

The Medieval Tournaments:

The colorful medieval tournaments, which were held both for entertainment and to give practice in the use of the lance, provided a great stimulus to the development of heraldry. A Marshal and Constable supervised the armorial decorations at these tournaments and in this we find the origins of the College of Arms. This also resulted in heraldry becoming an organized and scientific art. The decline in jousting in the 16th century and changes in methods of warfare did not however, lead to a decline in the importance of heraldry. Arms were displayed on seats and this was useful because many of the nobility were illiterate.

Arms in stone and on stained glass silver and elsewhere have provided countless clues for historians in dating and identifying buildings and objects. As heraldry flourished and became regulated it was necessary to have a language whereby a herald could accurately describe arms, and that his descriptions should be understood by other heralds. The language used was Norman French.

Heraldry, Therefore, is first of all a system of personal devices (i.e. symbols on the shield) appertaining to an individual and continuing, with certain restrictions, for his descendants. It is therefore a hereditary distinction. It is also an art.

The Heraldic Language:

Heraldry has a special vocabulary. The wording was developed by the early heralds and its precise formation achieves brevity by which a single word might indicate the position, posture and attitude of a charge. If one were to describe this charge in common terms, the resulting description would require several sentences. In heraldic terminology, the written description of an armorial bearing is a blazon. Knowledge of simple rules, which govern the blazoning of arms, is important to an understanding of the arms depicted.

In most cases the first word mentioned is the field or shield color. The next in importance is the major division of the shield, followed by the major charge in the description. Thereafter the remaining elements would follow in order from chief (top) to base (bottom) and Dexter (left) to sinister (right) as one views the shield. In all cases the color of the charge follows the description of the charge. For example: a lion rampant gules means that the lion is the charge, rampant indicates the position of the lion, "gules" (red) tells us the color of the lion.

Colors are never repeated in a blazon. Therefore terms such as "of the first" and "of the last" refer to the first or the last color mentioned in the description. When two or more charges of the same color occur, the color is not mentioned until the end of the description relative to that color. Example: a lion rampant between two roses gules.

 

Other Heraldic Usages:

Thus heraldry began as a specific mark of the fighting men and continues to be so to this day. Every soldier, sailor and marine wears a specific device, which is heraldic in nature. Yet arms are not exclusive to the fighting man. Most universities and colleges have their individual Coat of Arms or symbolic arrangement, which heralds the school and its principles. Clubs, corporations, churches, fraternities, agencies as well as city and state offices employ the equivalent of a Coat of Arms in some form. The car you drive more than likely displays the company's Coat of Arms proudly. Trademarks and symbols on cigarette packets, signs on stores, advertisements in magazines employ forms of heraldic devices to distinguish the products and elevate the prestige of the company in the eye of the consumer. The unifying quality of a Coat of Arms exists today, as much, if not more than 800 years ago, despite change and mechanization. For today, as in the days of William the Conqueror and all the formidable rulers of the middle Ages, we find the armorial bearing offering a unique purpose in identifying, and binding together, individuals into groups or families serving one cause, dedicated to one purpose, and lifting us out of a conformity and personal extinction.

When you claim use of a Coat of Arms, you are in essence declaring to all the world that you belong to something - some family, group or organization. More than likely you will want to display the Coat of Arms associated with your family name in a conspicuous place, with the knowledge that under the same banner great battles were fought and history was made.

Keep in mind when looking for "your own" coat of Arms you must also know your country of origin in order to get the correct Arms.  For example  the surname  "Morgan"  has at least seven coats of arms with origins from England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Germany France and Gales (Portugal), each country of origin will have a similar Coat of Arms for "Morgan"  but each a little different so we do need your correct origin to get your correct Coat of Arms.. 

For information and obtaining a copy  "Of Your Own"  Heraldic  Family Name History & Coat of Arms -  visit "Historical Research Center"

© 1997-2000 Historical Research Center International, Inc.        All Rights Reserved

 

The following is a compilation of a series of articles and links regarding the practice of Genealogy. We gratefully acknowledge a number of useful sources as noted.

For the moment most information laid out here is specific to people of US or Irish descent but much of the information - and many of the links included may prove equally beneficial for many other nationalities.

Where To Start? -   Introduction:

Family:

Literally any guide on Genealogy will tell you the best place to start in researching your genealogy is to talk to members of your own family as there is often no substitute for the memory and oral tradition of the individual. Older members of the extended family are often a gold mine of information on relations and names, which have been passed on by successive generations, but equally younger family members who've had considerable contact with older, perhaps now deceased, relatives may also be carrying on the oral and memory tradition of a families Genealogy. It is often a good idea also to consider taping these conversations on a little cassette recorder (with their consent obviously!)

Amongst the key pieces of information to try to establish at this stage in the research are the following:

• Names of relations, both living and deceased (A significant point to note here is the common practice of particular names which carry down through generations)
• Years or Specific Dates of Birth, Baptism/Christening, Marriage/Divorce and Death. (From Official Certificates, Newspaper Clippings, Obituaries and Memorial Cards)
• Geographical Locations (Country, State, Province, County, Town, Parish) of family habitation, associations and occurrences.
• Land or property titles or ownership.
• Religion of ancestors
• Trades and professions of ancestors
• Legends and Lore associated with the family or particular members*

*Whilst this information may sometime be the result of misinformation and may cause some false leads, it is still no harm to try and document it even for its entertainment value - It can always be eliminated later if more concrete information supercedes it. 

.Libraries:

After the initial family research it is probably a good idea to visit your local Library for a recommended Bibliography of research books on Genealogy. We have started compiling a reading list from a number of sources ourselves which we have detailed in our Bibliography pages which we soon will be posting  which we shall be constantly adding to.

Another excellent Library source  is the "Family History Center"  at your local LDS-Mormon  Temple or State House. Use of their facilities is free and they have the largest collection of microfilm records in the world from all over the world.  Find a Family History Center near you:  http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp?PAGE=library_fhc_find.asp

A third "Library source is your area "Regional National Archives"  for U.S. census records, and other history records of happenings in the U.S.since the 1600's  http://www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy /

 

Joining Genealogical Societies:

A National, State or Local Genealogical Society is a great place to get an abundance of support with your research, ranging from journals and newsletters published by the society, recommendations and references for sources and sometimes even access to actual records. Of course above all else possibly the main benefit to be gained is the personal interaction with and experience of fellow members who may have already been through difficulties that you find yourself encountering and can therefore in a position to offer both encouragement and advice. For a list of societies visit:   : www.familyhistory.com/societyhall/main.asp
 

Internet:

The internet is a great starting point for researching your genealogy. Our site of choice as the place to visit is Genealogy.com

The advent of the internet has provided almost instant access to millions of research resources and records both in official State websites and private organizations, corporations and personal WebPages many of which can be accessed through Genealogy.com

We also have a list of useful Genealogy Links which can be accessed here. There are also a great amount of hand written and printed records languishing in storerooms, attics, libraries, warehouses and official record books all over the world which may be waiting for someone like you to rediscover and make them accessible to the world!

RESEARCHING YOUR IRISH ROOTS: (Article Courtesy of Bord Fáilte - The Irish Tourist Board)

Starting the search.

Tracing or researching family history is an interesting pastime. If you are of Irish extraction you may wish to learn a little more of your family history. Indeed you may plan to visit the traditional homestead or seek out living relatives. To be successful, it is important to make preparations in your own country before visiting Ireland. An important factor in establishing a link with Ireland is the date and place of arrival of your ancestor in your home country. Many agencies and organizations will assist you in this aspect. For example, in the United States, the National Archive contains many useful records. It is often possible to trace from the family's American history back to the port and date of arrival. Immigrant records, notably The Famine Immigrants - published by Baltimore' s Genealogical Publishing Company in seven volumes, list the arrivals of persons into New York from 1848 to 1851. Moreover, army enlistment files, land grant records and local newspaper obituaries often give the county of origin of the pioneer ancestor. In Canada, intense research is currently in progress into the 18th/19th century Irish settlements in the Atlantic Provinces of Nova Scotia. Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The Department of Irish Studies, St Mary' s University, Halifax, is actively promoting the project in association with the archive authorities of the aforementioned provinces.

Australia is particularly well endowed with civil records because State involvement was a factor in a high proportion of emigrants arriving there. A series of 'assisted passages schemes' was operated in addition to the 19th century practice of deporting large numbers of people - Often for very minor infractions of the law. The National Library in Canberra has indexed many of the records while in Sydney the Mitchell (State Library of NSW) Library also has valuable records. The Society of Australian Genealogists, Richmond Villa, 120 Kent Street, Sydney, is in a position to service enquiries relating to most aspects of research in Australian genealogical sources. Note that the death certificate of the founding ancestor in Australia is often an informative document from a genealogical point of view. In your initial researches, however, often the most valuable information is that gleaned from family sources. Living relatives, family papers or traditions can be very important wherever possible, verify family tradition and items spoken about by old people. By those various methods, seek to build up as complete a picture as you can of the ancestor who left Ireland - surname, Christian or first name(s), trade, profession or occupation, their religion and the part or county of Ireland from which they come. An aid here is the tradition of emigrants naming their American homes after the parish or townland from which they came.

Main Irish Archives and Libraries:

Dublin City is the location for all of the Republic of Ireland's centralized genealogical records.

Births, Deaths and Marriages, Joyce House, 8/11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2 Tel: 353-(01) 711000. Open 9.30- 12.30 and 2.15 - 430pm Monday to Friday. While most non-Catholic marriages are recorded from 1845 onwards, registration of births, deaths and marriages generally commenced in 1864.

When search is conducted in person, the fees are: Limited search (confined to five years) IR £0.50, general search IR£1.20, Photo copies IR£1.50. Cost of certificates (including search fee) is as follows: Full birth cert. IR£5.50; short Birth cert. IR.£3.50; Death cert. IR£5.50 and Marriage cert. IR£5.50.

The Genealogical Office: which incorporates the office of the Chief Herald and the State Heraldic Museum, is located at 2 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Tel: 353-(01)614877/611626. A specialist consultation service on how to trace your ancestry is available at this office. Fee per consultation IR 10 Open from 10 am to 5 pm through lunchtime, Monday to Friday. Special presentations are arranged for visiting groups from overseas by prior arrangement. The Heraldic Museum is open to the public 10 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. Admission is free. Guided tours IR£1.00

The National Library, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 353-(01) 618811 open 10 am to 5.15 pm Monday and Tuesday, 10 am to 9 pm Wednesday and Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm Friday and 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, houses a major collection of genealogical material. An extensive range of trade directories -particularly for the 19th century - can be consulted, as well as journals of local historical and archaeological societies, published topographical and local histories and most newspapers. The library also has a microfilm section. This contains an extensive collection of pre-1880 Catholic records of baptisms, births and marriages. During the period from May to September the library's resources in terms of space, facilities and service are under severe pressure because of the increased number of visitors. A number of counties have established indexing projects. These provide first names and surnames of those listed in each parish register within that county. Using these indexes can identify the registered parish, whose registers can then be consulted for details of your family. The Irish Family History Association, c/o The Offaly Historical Society, Charleville Road, Tullamore, County Offaly Tel: 353-(0506) 21421 will supply a listing. Return postage or international reply coupon required

The National Archives, Four Courts, Dublin 7, Tel: 353-(01) 733833. Open 10 am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Documents are not produced between 12.45 and 2 pm or after 4.30 pm. This is the head office of the National Archives which was established on 1 June 1988. Before that date it was called the Public Record Office of Ireland. It is referred to as the Public Record Office in most publications. The Public Record Office suffered severely in a fire in 1922, and almost all records then held in it were destroyed. However, there are copies and indexes of some of the records, which were destroyed, and many other records of genealogical interest have been acquired since 1922. The records, which can now be consulted in the National Archives, include the census returns of 1901 and 1911, which list all persons living in Ireland in those years. For the 19th century the nearest equivalent is Griffith's Primary Valuation of 1848- 63, which lists occupiers of lands and buildings throughout Ireland. The Tithe Applotment Books of 1823-37 list those occupiers of land who had to pay tithes (a church tax). All wills admitted to probate since 1904 survive, and there are copies and abstracts of many 18th and 19th century wills. There is also an expanding collection of Church of Ireland Parish Registers on microfilm.

The National Archives , State Paper Office, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, Tel: 353-(01) 792777, ext. 2518. Open 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. It holds the records of the former Chief Secretary's Office, including papers relating to the Rebellion of 1798, the Fenian movement of the 1860s, and crimes and convicts throughout the 19th century. It is of particular importance to Australians whose ancestors wore transported from Ireland to Australia as convicts in the period 1788 to 1868. Micro films and a computerized index of the most important records relating to transportation have been deposited in the Australian National Library in Canberra, and copies of the microfilms will, in due course, be made available at state libraries throughout Australia.

Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, Tel: 353-(01) 748911. Open Monday to Friday 10 am. to 4.30 pm. Its records date from 1708 and relate to all the usual transactions affecting property, notably leases, mortgages and settlements. They also accepted wills. Marriage settlements make very useful reading. They have indexes to Grantors / Lessors and Town lands / Place names but Grantees/ Lessees are not indexed separately. A nominal fee of lR£1.00 per day is charged for research which includes Instruction on how to handle the indexes.

If your emigrant ancestor came from Northern Ireland - Antrim Armagh, Down, Derry, Tyrone or Fermanagh - the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast BT9 6NY, Tel: 44- (084) 661621 will be able to assist This office has the surviving official records for Northern Ireland including tithe and valuation records from the 1820s and 1830s; copy wills from 1858 for Ulster and copies of most pre-1900 registers of baptisms, marriages and burial for all denominations in Ulster. However, in some instances there are copies housed in Dublin for those whose time is at a premium

Local Records:

Birth, death and marriage records are also held at county level, relating to the county in question only, and again dating from 1864. Church records vary widely in age but, on average, date from the 1830s with many examples significantly older. Because of the large number of parishes, it is usually necessary to have successfully identified the parish before worthwhile progress can be made. Records are in the care of the parish priest However, a process of indexing all parish records within their respective counties is being undertaken by a number of historical/genealogical societies

The pre-1870 registers for over 1,000 out of some 1600 Church of Ireland parishes were destroyed in 1922. Those that survived are kept by the incumbents of parishes throughout the country. Many date to the 18th century with some even older.

Presbyterian enquirers are referred to the Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. The Society itself holds a number of registers.

The Library of the Society of Friends is located at Swanbrook House, Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Enquirers should telephone 353-(01) 683684 for information.

Local libraries are also worth consulting. Most contain fact sheets, giving details of books and documents of local genealogical interest. Ask if there is a local historic or genealogical society, some of which have undertaken the task of recording memorials of the dead.

The erection of headstones or tombstones was not prevalent before the middle of the 18th century. Sometimes they can provide names and details not available from any other source. The value to the genealogist has been recognized by the activities of the Society for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead. The Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast has published twenty-five volumes recording pre-1900 inscriptions in Belfast and counties Down and Antrim. Transcription lists have also been completed in counties Wexford and Wicklow.

Ireland's archives are constantly being researched and useful sources unearthed, while the task of cataloguing and indexing continues. This will enable more source material to be readily accessible and enhance still further your chances of succeeding.

A family tree by definition, is the record of the male ancestry through seven generations. This ideal can be very difficult to attain but the task itself is rewarding, absorbing and almost always crowned with some measure of success.

The Irish Genealogical Research Society publishes an annual journal entitled the "Irish Genealogist" . The Society's library is located at the Challoner Club, 59/61 Pont Street, London SW1, and is open Saturdays 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

Local Societies

Many local historical or archaeological societies around the country have among their members keen local genealogists who may well assist with local enquiries.

Research Agencies

A growing number of commercial agencies will undertake research on your behalf for a fee. A list of members of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland is available by post from the Genealogical Office, 2 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Lists of researchers can also be got from the National Library and the Public Record Office. 

CONTACTS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES:

England:

The General Register Office
St. Catherine's House
10 Kingsway
London, WC2B 6JP

For copies of wills going back to 1st January 1858 contact:

Principal Probate Registry
Somerset House
London, WC2 1LR.

Genealogy Advice:

The Society of Genealogists
37 Harrington Gardens
London, SW7 4JX

France:

Centre historique des Archives nationales (CHAN)
CARAN - service de reprographie
60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois
F-75141 Paris Cedex 03

Holland 

General State Archives Service
Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 20, 
The Hague. The Nederlands.

Mailing Address: 
Postbus 90520
2509 LM
The Hague, The Nederlands.

Telephone 070 - 331 5400
Fax 070 - 331 5499
E-mail ara@rad.arch ief.nl

 
Belgium

Algemeen Rijksarchief Brussel / Archives Générales du Royaume
Ruisbroekstraat 2-10
B-1000 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 513 76 80
Fax: +32 (0)2 513 76 81
E-mail: persoons@arch. be

Canada

National Archives of Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N3

Russia

State Archive of the Russian Federation
Bolshaya Pirogovskaya, 17
119817, Moscow, Russia

Scotland

General Register House,
Edinburgh. EH1 3YT, 
Scotland

Spain

Archivo de La Corona de Aragon Calle Condes de Barcelona 2 
Barcelona,
Spain 

This archive has some of the oldest legal, royal and ecclesiastical records in Europe, many dating back to the 11th Century.

Archivo de Simancas Responsible provisional
Jose Luis Rodriguez Carretera de Salamanca
Simancas Valladolid,
Spain

This archive has military, judicial, tax and royal records from 1545 to the present.

Archivo Historico Nacional Directora
Concepcion Contel Calle
Serrano 115 28006 
Madrid,
Spain

Founded in 1866, this archive has indexed genealogical records from the 15th to the 19th Century.

Italy

Instituto Centrale di Statistica
Via Balbo 16
00184 Rome Italy

 

Mexico

Eduardo Molina and Alba6niles s/n
Col. Penitenciaria Extension
Deleg. Venustiano Carranza
15350, Mexico, D.F.

Academia Mexicana de Genealogia y Heraldica
Arg. Jorge V. Barbabosa y Torres,
Presidente Calle Mision #11,
Fraccionamiento Lomas de Santa Fe,
Mexico, D.F. CP 01210M

For Irish Gift items, Coats of Arms, and many things irish  visit.

• Getting Started- A Genealogy Guide from Ancestry.com
• People Locate Search a location service from US Search.com
• Other Genealogy links

© 1997-2000 Historical Research Center International, Inc. All Rights Reserved