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How to Design a Coat-of-Arms for Free Online

Historically, knights relied on coats-of-arms for identification when they were clad in armor. With their colors and symbols, coats-of-arms became family symbols passed down through generations. A coat-of-arms usually consists of a shield, a mantling and a motto, with animals added for additional symbolism. The colors and animals you choose for a coat-of-arms can tell a story about your family history. Design a coat-of-arms for free online to give your family a present-day link to the past.

Instructions

    • 1

      Visit a website (see Resources) to begin creating your coat of arms. Choose the shape of your shield first. Choose between a curved, pointed or square shape.

    • 2

      Select a color for the shield. "Gules" is a red color, "azure" is a light blue color, "vert" is green, "purpure is purple and "sable" is black. If the creating tool allows, you might choose more than one color in a vivid contrast for your shield colors.

    • 3

      Choose a charge for the top of the shield. The charge is an animal that sits atop the shield. Families often chose a charge with a symbolism that they thought fit the family. For example, bears, eagles, dragons and lions are common choices for charges.

    • 4

      Place a mantling above the shield as added decoration. A mantling might be ornate and intricate and others are simple.

    • 5

      Add the supporters on the left and right side of the shield to balance the sides of the shield. The supporters were usually majestic animals like unicorns or lions.

    • 6

      Choose a motto to describe your family. Keep the motto short and succinct, but make it fit your family. Examples include, "God is our Strength," "Steady and Faithful," or "Love Conquers."

    • 7

      Finish the coat-of-arms and view it on the website. Most website tools will have a "print" button to enable you to print your coat-of-arms.

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