An example coat of arms design created with the Coat of Arms Visual Designer software.

Design Software

The Coat of Arms Design Software is available using the Design Software link or by using the matching link in the navigation bar on every page to the left.

You can see medium sized versions of all the creatures, symbols, plants and other things available as charges in the software by looking at the Charges page. Likewise, the divisions and ordinaries available are listed on the Divisions and Ordinaries pages.

The software was most recently updated on 29 December 2008, but it had a major update on 10 December 2008. The major update significantly changed the user interface. You can read the instructions for the new interface or simply keep in mind that you click in the green boxes on the shield (or anywhere on the shield when there is nothing on it) to add charges, divisions, and ordinaries, you should be able to get started. The prior version is still available.

Introduction to Heraldry

Most people who know something about Heraldry think of it as the practice of designing, describing, displaying and recording coats of arms and badges. But it can be more generally described as all the matters and duties relating to officers of arms.

Because this website is centered around a Coat of Arms design tool, the focus of of the information presented here will be to help someone design a coat of arms.

There are a couple of caveats that most Heraldry experts like to point out to novices:

1. A coat of arms was used by an individual, not a family. So if someone offers to look up your coat of arms for $5 or even $50, that person is just finding some guy a few hundreds of years ago that has the same last name. You might be related to that person who used those arms, but there also could be other arms related to you or there might be none at all. A significant amount of time and/or money is needed to truly know if you are related to the person using those arms.
2. It is difficult to determine the meaning of a particular symbol on a coat of arms. In the 16th-18th centuries there were some authors who created systems to explain the meaning of the symbols on arms, but these meanings could vary between authors if they could be applied to anything at all. The only way to know the meanings for sure is to get the designer's notes. In modern heraldry design notes are standard, but they become rare as you go back in history. Informed guesses can be made, but they are guesses with varying degrees of confidence. Knowing more about the bearer of the arms helps make more accurate guesses.

Note: If you're looking for an ancestor's charge design, several of the regular advertisers have lists of names and some will show you mini-designs of the ancestor's arms. Supporting the advertisers here also supports the further development of the software. (Thanks!)

Origins of Heraldry

As warriors in the middle ages wore armor, it became necessary for them to identify themselves. The symbols of each knight or baron would be assumed by his retainers and followers with appropriate modifications. This is how crests began to be used and these crests were placed on basinets and helms, then pennons and banners, rich surcoats and shields. This is the origin of Coats of Arms.

Heraldry in England began during the reign of Henry the III (AD 1216 to 1272) and by the end of the century it was known as a distinct science.

See Your Designs

If you've used the software and chose to "see merchandise" with your design you can view your design again. (Even if you didn't order at the time.) You just need the design ID (the id looks like 200811/1226122851977X833) displayed to you when you uploaded the design. Go to the following link and enter your design id: http://www.inkwellideas.com/arms_designs/

Note: The system keeps a copy of your design on our server for at least a few months, but you should keep a copy yourself. You can right-click the image on the web page to save a copy of the graphic to your computer, even if you never order any merchandise.

2nd Note: The graphic used to print on merchandise is much higher quality (higher resolution) than the image displayed in your web browser to ensure the merchandise's quality. 2nd Note:

About this Website

This wiki is designed to provide information about Heraldry to support the Coat of Arms Software Design program on the website.