coats of arms

[leo68lima]

What is the difference between a coat of arms and a family crest?

[dot.hawkes]

Commonly known as a Family Shield or coat of arms, that is the main body or field of the plaque, which can be in a few shapes de[pending on sex, a woman has a losenge shape, the crest is the part abovew the shield that depicts the rank of the bearer. That is a basic description, not all coats of arms (armoral bearings) have a crest, the arms of a Bishop would have a mytre, the arms of a Duke a coronet maybe, the arms of an eldest son may have one crest and the second son another, it is very complex. There are various partys of a shield (to simplify the explanation) that depict different trades, standing, events, there are also sup[porters, like the lion and the unicorn on the Royal Coat of arms, not all Armoral bearings have those. There is also the 'motto' as a layman would call it, again, not all have a 'motto' Elton John has a yellow brick road and a reference to watford Town as I recall.

[leo68lima]

Thank you, Dot!
How then , d'you know, would I be able to find out the significance of a family coat of arms that I have found?

[dot.hawkes]

http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/
The Royal College of arms will be able to help you, if you have a surname associated with it they can let you know which families with that surname they have recorded and also if the arms are stillin use. If you do not have the surname, they can usually ID them from the various components.
Alkso, if you do not have a surnbame it it not forced to be a Family coat of arms it could be corporate, military or local authority, or a guild even, the description of a coat of arms in words is called a blazon, in heraldry there are various parts of a shield and colours are given different names, like gold is or for example.