General Resource Sites

• Ahnen und Wappen 
  Genealogy & heraldry.
• Amateur Heralds WebRing 
• Ancestry.com - Learning Center - Learn More 
  Thousands of FREE, searchable how-to articles from Ancestry.com publications such as Ancestry Magazine, the Ancestry Weekly Discovery and the Ancestry Monthly Update.
  • Ancestry.com - Pssst! Want to Buy Your Family’s Coat of Arms? 
    Article by Dick Eastman.
  • Ancestry.com - The Rebus 
    Article by Mike Crow.
• Araldica - Archivio Storico Araldico Italiano - Accurate Ricerche Araldiche 
• Arthurian Coats of Arms 
• Blasón Virtual, Heráldica en la Red 
• Blazon Search - Searchable Armories 
  A subscription based database. The blazons of the coats-of-arms of over 130,000 European noble families. Includes Rietstap's Armorial online.
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Ecclesiastical Heraldry 
• The College of Arms 
  • College of Arms - Frequently Asked Questions 
    Answers the question "Do coats of arms belong to surnames?" with a resounding "NO!".
• EarlyBlazon.com 
  Coat of arms and characters of the Albigensian crusade.
• A Display of Heraldrie: by John Guillim (c1551 - 1621) 
• Family Chronicle - Acquiring a REAL Coat of Arms: Part I 
  Heraldry is alive and well, as Halvor Moorshead explains.
• The Fine Art of Calligraphy, Heraldry and Medieval Illumination 
  Produced by artist, Neil Bromley, an extensive gallery of artwork produced on vellum and gold leaf. Family crests and shields, full coats of arms, freedom scrolls, and medieval miniatures to reproductions of manuscript pages. Past commisions have included honorary scrolls for the city of London and royalty.
• Google Directory: Society > Genealogy > Heraldry 
• Heraldic Primer: Table of Contents 
• Heraldica - François Velde's Heraldry Site 
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  The Heraldry and Coat of Arms Web Ring 
• Heraldry Design Marc MAYO 
  Armorial Héraldique Marc MAYO : creation et reproduction de blasons et d'armoiries personnelles ou familiales.
• Heraldry & Genealogy 
  From the Allen County Public Library.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Heraldry - Jerry's Heraldry 
  Shields, coat of arms and blazons for surnames from A to Z.
• Heraldry Links Page 
• Heraldry Page by M.N. Razumkin 
  The Crown of Russian Empire - The Unofficial Home Page.
• Heraldry: a Selected List of References 
  Bibliography from the Library of Congress.
• HIC LEONES Archive: Historical Maps (Countries, Cities), Coats of Arms, and Flags (1880-1898) 
  Constantly growing database of detailed historical maps (countries, cities), coats of arms, and flags from the time period 1880-1898 (originals taken from dictionaries and geographical lexica).
• The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies 
  A school for the study of the history and structure of the family and of subjects generally auxiliary to historical applications.
• The Institute of Heraldry 
• International Civic Arms 
  Over 32,000 arms of towns, states and countries.
• Jeff Alvey Genealogy History Heraldry 
• Jürgen Maus, Grabador De Escudos, Iniciales Y Emblemas * Lapidarios 
  He is an engraver of coat of arms, initials and emblems in semi and precious stones.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Kleine Einführung in die Wappenkunde / Introduction in Heraldry  ~ in German
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  The Law of Arms 
  A brief overwiev of the Law of Arms in some European legal systems.
• Modar's Heraldry Page 
  Heraldry as utilized by the Society for Creative Anachronsim. Useful for re-creationists.
• RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees - Lesson 19: Heraldry for Genealogists 
• Steven B. Madewell's Coats of Arms Index 
  The Coats of Arms Index contains entries and graphic renderings of arms listed in Burke's "General Armory", Rietstap's "Armorial General", and like compendiums.
• Yahoo!...Genealogy: Heraldry and Name Histories 

Glossaries

• Au Blason des Armoiries 
  Large glossary (French) about heraldry and nobility (about 2,000 pages).
• A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry 
• Heraldic Dictionary 
  From the Univeristy of Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library.
• Pimbley's Dictionary of Heraldry 
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  The Points of Heraldry - The Basics of Heraldic Design and Terminology 

Locality Specific

• Alive-heraldry 
  Russian heraldic page.
• Ancestry.com - Search Family & Local History Records 
  Ancestry.com has searchable indexes; database results and some digitized images are available with a fee-based subscription.
  • Armoiries et prééminences des familles Bretonnes dans les églises du ressort de Morlaix et de Lanmeur 
    Original source: Pitre de Lisle Du Dreneuc. Armoiries et prééminences des familles Bretonnes dans les églises du ressort de Morlaix et de Lanmeur. Nantes: Vincent Forest & Emile Grimaud, 1887.
  • Armorial de la ville de Marseille, recueil officiel 
    Original source: Le comte de Godefroy de Montgrand. Armorial de la ville de Marseille, recueil officiel. Marseille: A. Gueidon, 1864.
  • Armorial des évêques de Nantes 
    Original source: Stéphan de La Nicollière-Teijeiro. Armorial des évêques de Nantes. Nantes: Imp. Charpentier, 1868.
  • Armorial du Poitou et état des nobles réservés dans toutes les élections de la generalite 
    Original source: A. Gouget. Armorial du Poitou et état des nobles réservés dans toutes les élections de la generalite. Niort: Robin et L. Favre, 1866.
  • Armorial Families: A Directory of Coat-Armour 
    Original source: Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles. Armorial Families: A Directory of Some Gentlemen of Coat-Armour, Showing Which Arms in Use at the Moment are Borne by Legal Authority. London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland: T.C. & E.C. Jack, 1899.
  • Armorial général des registres de la noblesse de France : résumé et précédé d'une notice sur la famille d'Hozier d'après des documents inédits 
    Original source: Edouard de Barthélemy. Armorial général des registres de la noblesse de France : résumé et précédé d'une notice sur la famille d'Hozier d'après des documents inédits. Paris: E. Dentu, 1867.
  • Armorial général du Lyonnais, Forez et Beaujolais 
    Original source: Auguste Brun. Armorial général du Lyonnais, Forez et Beaujolais. Lyon, France: A. Brun, 1860.
• Araldica - Archivio Storico Araldico Italiano 
  Ricerche Storiche Araldiche Nobiliari di famiglie concognome Italiano.
• Cheshire Heraldry 
  Dedicated to the art and science of heraldry in the County Palatine of Chester.
• Coats of Arms of the 64 Counties of the Kingdom of Hungary 
• Corpo Della Nobilta Sammarinese 
  Information on San Marino's nobility, heraldry and orders of chivalry.
• Detlef Schmitz - Heraldik 
  German site with numerous links to heraldry pages, and to armorials online.
• Document Gallica  ~ France
  This site has each page of the Rietstap Armorial General available in adobe acrobat.
• Euraldic.com 
  Héraldique: logiciels et bases de données (French page), Heraldry: databases, software and designs.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Fränkische Wappenrolle 
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Genealogia e Heráldica Portuguesa - Portuguese Genealogy and Heraldry 
  álvaro HOLSTEIN Home Page.
• Genealogy and Heraldry in Slovenia 
• Geraldika.ru 
  Russian heraldic website with many links.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Heráldica Española 
• Heráldica Española, Heraldry for Surnames of Spanish Origin 
  Heráldica y escudos de armas de apellidos españoles, genealogía, escudos de armas - Heraldry for surnames of Spanish origin, coats of arms, genealogy.
• Heraldica Litvaniae 
  Heraldry of Great Litva (Belarus).
• HeraldicAmerica - Site de l'héraldique nord-américaine - A Site About North American Heraldry 
  Includes unofficial website of L'Académie internationale d'héraldique.
• Heráldica Portuguesa 
• Heraldik im Netz, ein Knotenpunkt zum Thema Wappenkunde (Heraldik-Wappen) 
  Ein Knotenpunkt zum Thema Wappenkunde. Einführungin die Heraldik mit Forum.
• Héraldique européenne 
• Heraldique WebRing 
  French heraldic web ring.
• Heraldiska Samfundet 
  A Swedish association for heraldry and related subjects, based in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Instituto Português de Heráldica 
  Official site of the Instituto Português de Heráldica (Portuguese Institute of Heraldry).
• Kunst und Kultur der Wappen / Art and Culture of the Coat of Arms 
  Introduction into the art and culture of heraldy, photographic index of architectural heraldry in western and southern Germany, in German language.
• National Archives of South Africa 
  • The Bureau of Heraldry 
  • National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System (NAAIRS) 
    Online searchable finding aid to identify and locate archival material. NAAIRS does not contain actual scanned documents.
    • Select and Search A NAAIRS Database 
      • Database: Data of the Bureau of Heraldry on registered heraldic representations 
• Pat Brennan Heraldry - Gaelic Irish Heraldry and Heraldic Practice 
• Ukrainian Heraldry 
• The U.S. Heraldic Registry 
  The U.S. Heraldic Registry is a private enterprise that offers free registration of contemporary and historical heraldry. The mission of the Registry is to compile and offer to the public a comprehensive database of personal, corporate, civic, military, academic, organizational, and ecclesiastical arms.
• Wappenrolle fuer Franken / Roll or Arms for Franconia 
• Wappensuche 
  Heraldry in German-speaking areas.
• www.heraldika.hu- Magyar Cimer Portal 
  Hungarian heraldic portal.

Mailing Lists, Newsgroups & Chat

• Genealogy Resources on the Internet - Nobility/Heads of State/Heraldry Mailing Lists 
  Most of the mailing list links below point to this site, wonderfully maintained for years by John Fuller. This site indexes links for all known genealogy mailing lists, including RootsWeb and others.
• RootsWeb: Genealogy Mailing Lists: Heraldry 
  The majority of genealogy mailing lists are hosted by RootsWeb.com. Messages on RootsWeb lists are archived. The links to RootsWeb below point you to the archives (browse or search).

• AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN-HERALDRY Mailing List 
  For anyone with a genealogical or historical interest in Austro-Hungarian Heraldry and Coats of Arms. Archives: browse or search.
• FRENCH-HERALDRY Mailing List 
  For anyone with a genealogical or historical interest in French Heraldry and Coats of Arms. Archives: browse or search.
• GERMAN-HERALDRY Mailing List 
  For anyone with a genealogical or historical interest in German Heraldry and Coats of Arms. Archives: browse or search.
• HERALDRY Mailing List 
  For anyone with a genealogical interest in Heraldry. Archives: browse or search.
• HERBARZ Mailing List 
  For the discussion of Polish and Lithuanian heraldry, the history of the armorial clans, and the genealogy of noble families. Archives: browse or search.
• SWISS-HERALDRY Mailing List 
  For anyone with a genealogical or historical interest in Swiss Heraldry and Coats of Arms. Archives: browse or search.

• Google Groups - rec.heraldry 
  Message board version of the Usenet Newsgroup rec.heraldry.
• Usenet Newsgroup rec.heraldry 

The Myths of Heraldry and Coats of Arms

• Ancestry.com - Pssst! Want to Buy Your Family’s Coat of Arms? 
  Article by Dick Eastman.
• Baronage Caveat Emptor: "Name Histories" and "Family Crests" 
• College of Arms - Frequently Asked Questions 
  Answers the question "Do coats of arms belong to surnames?" with a resounding "NO!".
• Heraldry: The Use and Abuse of Coats of Arms and Crests 
  One hundred years ago, William Crozier Armstrong noted that, "In America we have no institution analogous to the College of Heralds; the consequence is, that there are more assumptive arms borne in America than anywhere else. It is not overestimating when we say that at least seventy-five percent of the arms engraved on notepaper today are fraudulent.".
• My So-Called Family Coat of Arms: A Case Study 
  Because 'heraldry' mills produced and sold coats of arms for any practically any surname for decades, a myth grew in American culture that every family has a coat of arms, or at least one exists for every surname. It has also become popular to use the expression 'family crest' when referring to the arms, but the two words are not interchangeable; the crest is what sits atop the coat of arms.
• Society of Genealogists Information Leaflet No. 15 - The Right to Arms 

Professional Researchers, Volunteers & Other Research Services

• About Achievement of Arms (tm) 
  Software for designing shields, crests, etc.
• Achievements Ltd of Canterbury 
  Professional genealogical and heraldry research.
• Appleton Studios - Speaker Presentations 
  Topics: heraldry (coats of arms, "family crests").
• C.W. Bush, Certified Genealogist-AMERICAN PEERAGE® 
  Professional research and application for personal Coat of Arms to College of Arms (England) and Court of Lord Lyon (Scotland) by Certified Genealogist Cornelia W. Bush, CG, FSA Scot.
• Dudley Bateman - Heraldic Artist 
  We can supply most forms of heraldic artwork to individual order. Library paintings and wall plaques reproduced by hand from original grant or warrant.
• eXpertGenealogy - Genealogy Professionals - Heraldry 
  Directory of professional genealogists specializing in Heraldry research.
• Family Tree Genealogical and Probate Research Bureau Ltd. 
  Professional research service covering the area of what was formerly the Austro - Hungarian Empire, including: Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Transylvania, Croatia, Slovenia, former Yugoslavia (Banat), and the Ukraine (Sub-Carpathian).
• genealogyPro - Professional Researchers Specializing in Heraldry 
• Gonzague de Lamotte 
  Heraldic artist.
• Heraldik, Genealogie, Namendeutung, Ahnenforschung, Ahnentafel, Stammbaum, Familienwappen 
  Heraldry in German-speaking areas, genealogy, name-histories.
• Heraldry, Carved Coats of Arms and Crests 
  Ian G Brennan, Contemporary sculptor and woodcarver to the British Royal Household whose can be found in Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, museums, company receptions and private collections all over the world.
• Marc MAYO Heraldiste // Accueil // Création Reproduction Blason Armoiries / Héraldique 
  Heraldic Design Creation/reproduction d'armoiries personnelles ou familiales, nobles ou roturieres. Armorial Europeen des familles MAYO. Armorial Noir (Charondas).
• www.wappensuche.de * Die Suche nach namensgleichen Familienwappen 
  Heraldry-research (Germany, Switzerland, Austria).

Publications, Software & Supplies

• Cyndi's List Genealogy Bookstore 
  A categorized list of genealogy research books that looks a lot like my bookshelf at home.

• Amazon.com Genealogy Bookstore - Heraldry 
  The following are individual book titles of interest for this topic. The book links below point to the Amazon.com bookstore online where you may purchase the book if you wish. These links are provided to bring these published resources to your attention as an aid to your research. Follow the links to books of interest to make note of their title, author, publisher, and ISBN. You might then use this information to obtain the book from your local library or your favorite corner book shop.
  • A Canadian Heraldic Primer 
    A book by Kevin Greaves.
  • Cattle Brands of Baja California Sur 1809-1885 
    A book by Michael Mathes.
  • Cattle Brands: Ironclad Signatures 
    A book by Jane Pattie.
  • The Cowboy's Own Brand Book 
    A book by Duncan Emrich.
  • The Elements of Japanese Design : A Handbook of Family Crests, Heraldry & Symbolism 
    A book by John W. Dower.
  • Heraldry: For the Local Historian and Genealogist 
    A book by Stephen Friar.
  • Heraldry: Sources, Symbols, and Meaning 
    A book by Ottfried Neubecker.
  • Japanese Design Motifs: 4260 Illustrations of Heraldic Crests 
    A book by Matsuya.
  • The Oxford Guide to Heraldry 
    A book by Thomas Woodcock.
  • Polish Genealogy and Heraldry: An Introduction to Research 
    A book by Janina W. Hoskins.
• Armorial Gold Heraldry Clipart 
  Clip art for sale.
• Baronage Press 
  The magazine of The Baronage Press covers many aspects of history and constitutional politics, but is primarily about heraldry and medieval genealogy with an emphasis on Scotland.
• Chris Puncher's Heraldry Drawing Software 
  Allows simple designs to be drawn by selecting the appropriate heraldic terms from drop down lists. Requires no real knowledge of heraldy.
• Crossstitch Heraldry 
  Coat of arms cross stitch patterns, free postage worldwide, hand made in Ireland.
• ebookcdrom.com 
  Heraldry books on CD-ROM.
• Genealogical.com - Heraldry 
  The online store of Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. & Clearfield Company.
  • Crozier's General Armory 
    A book by William Armstrong Crozier.
  • A Hand-book of Mottoes Borne by the Nobility, Gentry, Cities, Public Companies, Etc. 
    A book by Charles Norton Elvin.
  • Heraldic Design A Handbook for Students 
    A book by Heather Child.
  • Heraldry in America 
    A book by Eugene Zieber.
  • Scots Heraldry 
    A book by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney.
  • Virginia Heraldica 
    A book by William Armstrong Crozier.
• Heraldry Software 
• Heraldry Today 
  Books for heraldry and genealogy.
• Heritage Books: Heraldry 
• John Townsend - Second-hand Books 
  Out-of-print books, genealogy, topography, local history, antiquarian heraldry books.
• Uitgeverij Editions Jan van HELMONT Verlag Publishing Co. 
  Heraldry. Genealogy. Armorials. Old unknown heraldic manuscripts. Nobility. Golden Fleece & other chivalry orders. I republished Count RENESSE's Dictionnaire des figures heraldiques by which one identifies 105000 coats of arms. I wrote the GROOT REGISTER (1988) containing 202000 references to Mss in the Belgian Royal Library. I also published the Armorial de GELRE. And now I've just finished publishing five really wonderful manuscripts from the HULDENBERG CASTLE LIBRARY belonging to Count Frédéric de LIMBURG STIRUM: the most beautiful and most precious privately owned Belgian library at all on genealogy and heraldry.

Queries, Message Boards & Surname Lists

• Ancestry.com - Message Boards - Heraldry and Coats of Arms 

Societies & Groups

• The American College of Heraldry 
• The American Heraldry Society 
• Association of Amateur Heralds 
  Voluntary association of heraldists dedicated to research and the design of new arms.
• Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique 
• The Augustan Society, Inc. 
  An International Genealogical, Historical, Heraldic and Chivalric Society.
• The Harleian Society 
  Known for the quality and scholarship of its publications, particularly its editions of the Heralds' Visitations in the possession of the College of Arms.
• [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  Hellenic Armigers Society 
• Heraldry Australia Inc. 
  A Society of Australians promoting the study and use of heraldry.
• The Heraldry Society 
• The Heraldry Society of Scotland 
• HEROLD. Verein für Heraldik, Genealogie und verwandte Wissenschaften zu Berlin e. V., gegründet 1869 
  German main society for heraldry.
• Norfolk Heraldry Society  ~ England
• The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada / La Société royale héraldique du Canada 
• Russian College of Heraldry / Collegium Heraldicum Russiae 
• Schweizerische Heraldische Gesellschaft - Société Suisse d'Héraldique - Società Svizzera di Araldica 
  Swiss Heraldry Society.
• Serbian Heraldic Society - White Eagle 
  Responsible for the majority of the designs of heraldry in Serbia and Montenegro.
• Slovak Genealogical-Heraldic Society / Slovenská Genealogicko – Heraldická Spolocnost 
• Societas Heraldica Scandinavica 
  The Scandinavian Heraldry Society.
• Svenska Heraldiska Föreningen 
  Official site of the Swedish Heraldic Society.

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