“Coat of arms,” “family crest,” “clan badge” — these terms are used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but in heraldry, they mean very different things. Getting them right helps you understand what you actually have (or are looking for) when you research your family’s heraldic history.
Here’s the definitive breakdown.
The Coat of Arms
The coat of arms is the complete heraldic achievement — everything together. The name comes from the fact that knights in the Middle Ages literally wore their heraldic design on the surcoat (a cloth garment worn over their armor), hence “coat of arms.”
A full coat of arms includes:
- The shield (escutcheon) — the core element with colors and symbols
- The helmet — above the shield, with a style indicating rank
- The crest — the emblem on top of the helmet
- The mantling — decorative cloth flowing from the helmet
- The wreath (torse) — a twisted roll between helmet and crest
- Supporters — figures on either side (not always present)
- The motto — a phrase on a scroll below the shield
When people say “my family’s coat of arms,” they usually mean either the full achievement or just the shield — both usages are fine in everyday language.
The Family Crest
The family crest is specifically the emblem that sits on top of the helmet in a coat of arms. Just the crest — not the whole design.
In medieval tournaments, the crest was often the most visible part of a knight’s heraldic identity, because it projected above the heads of the crowd. Crests were often three-dimensional — actual sculpted objects attached to the helmet. They might be an animal’s head, a plume of feathers, a hand holding a weapon, or any number of emblems.
The phrase “family crest” is often used to mean the entire coat of arms — and in everyday usage, this is perfectly acceptable. But technically, if someone shows you “just the crest,” they’re showing you one specific element of the full design.
Practically speaking: When you’re looking for your “family crest,” what you want is the full coat of arms associated with your surname — shield, crest, motto, and all. That’s what we research and provide.
The Clan Badge
The clan badge is a distinctly Scottish concept with no direct equivalent in English or Continental heraldry.
In Scotland, only the clan chief bears the full coat of arms. Clan members — who share the chief’s name and loyalty but are not in the direct heraldic line — express clan identity through:
- The clan badge (plant badge): A specific plant traditionally worn in the bonnet or hat. For example, heather for Clan MacGregor, holly for Clan Drummond, or oak for Clan Cameron.
- The crest badge: The chief’s crest displayed within a strap-and-buckle design (the strap reading the clan motto). Clan members can wear this as a brooch to show clan membership — but it’s the chief’s crest displayed in a distinctive frame, not the member’s personal arms.
- The tartan: The distinctive woven pattern associated with each clan, used in kilts, scarves, and other textiles.
These three things — plant badge, crest badge, and tartan — are how Scottish clan members express heraldic identity without bearing personal arms.
Why the Confusion?
The terms get confused for a few reasons:
- Common usage has blurred the lines. “Family crest” has become a colloquial synonym for “coat of arms” in common speech, and this is widely accepted.
- Commercial heraldry has simplified (and sometimes distorted) the terminology. Products sold as “family crests” often show a full shield design, not just the crest element.
- Different national traditions use the terms differently. In Scotland, the crest badge system is specific to clan culture and has no equivalent in English or Irish heraldry.
What You Actually Need
If you’re researching your family heritage:
- You want the coat of arms — the full heraldic design associated with your surname, including the shield, crest, and motto
- If your family is Scottish, you’ll also want to know your clan name and plant badge — which connects you to the clan tradition even if you don’t personally bear arms
- The crest alone is most useful when you want to engrave something small — like a signet ring or pendant — where only the most distinctive emblem will fit
Display Your Family’s Heraldic Identity
- Search your family name — find the full coat of arms
- The full family heritage package — coat of arms, surname history, and more
- A personalized signet ring — engraved with your family crest