Family Crests
A quick guide to Irish family crests
Family crests started in the 11th century as a way to tell the different soldiers apart. They were worn on helmets and painted on shields.
The main feature of the crests is the shield that bears the colors and symbols of the family.
The helmet above wears a wreath of the family colors and the family motto in Latin or Irish. The family name is below it all with the crest at the top.
Here are some hidden meanings you can find in the crests:
The COLORS of the family crests represent different aspects of the clan:
White is peace and sincerity.
Black is consistency (unwavering and strong) and grief
Red is military strength and magnanimity (generosity)
Blue is truth and loyalty
Green is hope, joy, and love
And Gold/Yellow is kindness and elevation of the mind (hard to explain but it's basically an urge to have unselfish concern for others)
There are also hidden meanings on family crests using SYMBOLS:
Lion is courage, strength, and leadership
Eagle is power, freedom, and keen vision
Bear is fierce protection and strong defence
Horse is being ready for duty or battle
Stag is wisdom and connection to nature
Dog is loyalty and faithfulness
Shamrock is national identity and hope
Wheat or corn is hard work
Holly is truth
Harp is music and culture
And these are just a few of the symbols
My mom is part Irish and her maiden name is Quinn. So, I am going to use it as an example to show you how to decode her crest.
The motto a
t the top means “I wish to see heavenly things.”
The crest at the top is a ripped off head of an ermine with a pattern on its fur. Because the ermine head is white with black spots it stands for dignity and purity
A pegasus on the crest means creative inspiration, fame, and wisdom.
The colors are Yellow and Green which means hope, joy, love, kindness, and elevation of mind
And the surname below on a scroll; the way you spell it in Gaelic/Irish is Ó Cuinn
