The Wall of Shields
(and Coats of Arms and Seals)
Note: The following are some of the Shields, Coats of Arms and Seals I have encountered while researching my ancestry.
Do note, however, that according to College of Arms FAQs on heraldry, "There is no such thing as a 'coat of arms for a surname'. Many people of the same surname will often be entitled to completely different coats of arms, and many of that surname will be entitled to no coat of arms. Coats of arms belong to individuals. For any person to have a right to a coat of arms they must either have had it granted to them or be descended in the legitimate male line from a person to whom arms were granted or confirmed in the past." This is echoed by Fleur-de-lis Designs' article "Excuse Me, But There's No Such Thing As A Family Crest". That said, some of my ancestors represented below did in fact trace their ancestry to a subject of the crown. So, enjoy the shields, crests, seals and coats of arms below, which can be printed off like trading cards.
~ James "Jamie" Arthur Johnson
Verified Ancestries with Verified Shields
(and Coats of Arms and Seals)
Arms of Bohun: The Earls of Hereford, male descendants of my ancestor Humphrey "The Bearded" or "The Old" de Bohun, I, adopted this ca. 1200.
The Bruce Clan is that of my ancestor Robert the Bruce (King Robert I of Scotland). Its motto Fuímus means "We have been."
The Seal of Robert the Bruce
(King Robert I of Scotland).
"We fight for freedom alone, which on good man surrenders but with his life."
Campbell is a Scottish and Irish name appearing in both the paternal Scottish (via Malinda Campbell Johnson) and maternal Irish (via John Campbell) ancestries of James Arthur Johnson.
(Campbell Badge, Source: FamilySearch)
Ne Obliviscaris ("Do Not Forget")
Campbell is a Scottish and Irish name appearing in both the paternal Scottish (via Malinda Campbell Johnson) and maternal Irish (via John Campbell) ancestries of James Arthur Johnson.
"Glory is the reward of valour."
Clan Donnachaidh
(Clan Duncan/Robertson)
An ancestral clan and according to legend, parent of clan of Clan Skene
Clan Drummond
Na Druimeanaich
Crest: On a crest coronet Or, a goshhawk wings displayed Proper, armed and belled Or, jessed Gules
Motto: Virtutem coronat honos
(Honour crowns virtue)
I've verified my ancestor Margaret Gospatrick of Dunbar carried the Dunbar name. The Dunbar motto is In promptu, which means "In readiness."
Farrell -- The Uí Fhearghail (O'Ferralls or O'Farrell) -- Clan of Ireland (Source: The Farrel Clan - Longford, Ireland)
-- ancestors of the Kearns.
Prodesse Non Nocere -- "To do Good not Evil"
Forbes is a Scottish name that goes back to Scottish Royalty (Robert the Bruce) and other notable royal relatives. The Forbes line married into the De Skene/Skene/Skeen line.
In the Drummond ancestry is Gilbert (Gille Brigte), Earl of Strathearn. This is his second Seal from a Charter to the Abbey of Inchaffray
The Gospatrick ancestry is via my ancestor Margaret Gospatrick of Dunbar, wife of Gille Brigte mac Dufugan, 2nd Earl of Angus. She is also the first ancestor I've verified to carry the Dunbar name.
Wida Sigillum Hedwigis "Wida Seal of Hedwig"
Hedwiga
(Hathui of Babenberg), Hedwig, Gemahlin Heinrich X. (wife of Henry X; she was his widow), Vogt von Weida, wife of Otto I (Duke of Saxony), mother of Henry the Fowler
Carolingians: Hedwiga
Seal of Henry the Fowler, son of Otto I and Hedwiga, from a document dated 30 March 925 with the words Heinricus Rex "Henry King,"
Duke of Saxony from 912 and the King of Germany from 919 until his death in 936.
Carolingians: Henry the Fowler
Esse quam videri
"To be rather than to appear."
Source from The Ivey Family in the United States by George Franks Ivey
Ivey Ancestry
In the Drummond ancestry are the Mormaers or Earls of Menteith. Above: Arms of Muireadhach I, Earl of Menteith (d. 1213), the Earl at the start of the age of heraldry.
This Propst line is of German (Saxony/Bavaria) origin, not Swiss origin. The name is derived from probst, a provost of a Roman Catholic Church diocese (in Germany). Propst Ancestry
Granted to Rexrode or von-Rexrode from Wanfried in Hesse of southwestern Germany between Thuringia and the Rhine River. Rexrode/Rexroad/Rexroth/Recksrodt Ancestry
Rexrode is derived from a village mentioned in 1337 as Reystras and in 1490 as Rexraide though a legend says this family made weapons and armor for Otto the Red, hence the Latin Rex for "king" paired with the old German roth for "red." Rexrode/Rexroad/Rexroth/Recksrodt Ancestry
Another version of the von-Recksrodt/Reckerodt/Rexrode/Rexroad Shield
Rexrode/Rexroad/Rexroth/Recksrodt Ancestry
Seal of King Robert II of France, "The Pious" (le Pieux) or "The Wise" (le Sage)
Vermandois Ancestry
Clan Robertson (Clan Donnachaidh/Duncan), parent clan of Clan Skene according to legend, but also an ancestral clan.
"Virtue the Reward of Bravery"
Skeen comes from Scottish sgian, a dagger the ancestor used to save the king from a wolf. Skeen/(De) Skene Ancestry
Skene/Skeen comes from Scottish sgian, a dagger the ancestor used to save the king from a wolf. Skeen/(De) Skene Ancestry
Seal of my direct ancestor King Robert II (Robert Stewart) of Scotland (son of Majorie Bruce; grandson of Robert the Bruce).
Strickler
Vivemus Servare
We live to serve
(Adopted before 1685)
(Source: The Strickler Family: Biographies: Coats of Arms)
The Coat of Arms of Waltheof, the last Saxon Earl of Northumberland, who was beheaded May 31, 1076, at the request of his wife's uncle William the Conqueror due to participation in the Revolt of Earls.
Verified Ancestries with Unverified Shields
(and Coats of Arms and Seals)
The English Johnson Coat of Arms. My Johnson line appears to have origins in southern and central England.
The Early Johnsons
The Johnson shield may be one of these (but not Scottish).
See note regarding Cranford shields.
The McMullen Chief's Coat of Arms
Miseris Succurrere Disco
"I learn to succour the distressed"
The McMullen Crest (Clan Badge)
Miseris Succurrere Disco
"I learn to succour the distressed"
Unverified Ancestries with Unverified Shields
(and Coats of Arms and Seals)
Gilleberti Filii Gilleberti Sigilum Comitis
"Gilbert son of Gilbert Earl Seal"
Gilbert fitz Gilbert de Clare "Strongbow",
1st Earl of Pembroke
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Richard de Clare "Strongbow" seal
2nd Earl of Pembroke, conqueror of Ireland and Justice of Ireland, son of Gilbert fitz Gilbert de Clare
de Clare "Strongbow" Ancestry
The arms of the Maules of Panmure are distiguished from those of the French family by the border being partitioned and the charges counterchanged. The number of escallops was eight in the arms of Sir William De Maule drawn ca.1296, but nine by his son Sir Henry ca. 1320.
De Maule Ancestry
Coin of King Olaf of Sweden
Olof Skötkonung
(may have been known as Olaf Eriksson, though it this is not reliably referenced)
Viking Ancestry
Heritage Shields
The below represent various nations of origin of those in my heritage who migrated to America, featuring some surnames of immigrant families. Neither the nations, nor the surnames thereof, are an exhaustive list.
SWITZERLAND
• Baughman • Coffman/Kauffman • Fankhauser/Funkhouser • Knussli/Kneisley/Knicely • Stauffer/Stover • Stickley/Stockli • Strickler • Suppinger/Zuppinger • Wise/Weiss
Honorary Shields
HERALDRY
by my daughter Leona Johnson (2018)
The shield; you will fight for me.
I chose the tree; you help me to grow.
A star for you are the third-born son.
The helmet; you are my knight in
shining armor.
Faith, Family, Genealogy, Communication, Tech
A shield I drew to show the things that are important to me.
Knight shield from my high school
One of my favorite books Lionheart: Living in History, England 1190AD (1987) by Edwin King, which has provided information regarding many of my ancestors in England (1000-1190).
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
It reflects my British heritage and I have seen it many places in my travels.
My birthplace
Resources & Links
These may be helpful for your own research:
- Balliol Roll (local copy)
- A Beginner's Guide to Understanding a Coat of Arms
- Coat of Arms Maker
- Heraldic Codex
- The Heraldic Journal: Recording the Armorial Bearings and Genealogies of American Families, Volume I
- The Heraldic Journal: Recording the Armorial Bearings and Genealogies of American Families, Volume III
The following links may also be of interest:
- COADB - Coat of Arms Database
- DrawShield - Create shields, learn blazonry, study heraldry