Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Oatka
If it's any comfort to you at all, most of those "coats of arms" were fakes, sold by a company that catered to people with genealogical ambitions.

If you know how European heraldry works, nobody's entitled to those armorial bearings but the eldest son and his lineal descendants in the primary line. Who mostly didn't emigrate, because they had no reason to . . . .

About the only exception to this is the Scottish clan system -- descendants who can trace to the clan territory are entitled to use the crest of the clan coat of arms only, encircled with a strap and buckle to show that they are clansmen, not direct lineal descendants. But that is unique to the clan system.

The Italian nobility didn't follow the rule of primogeniture, but most don't even use their titles any more. Devaluation by overwhelming supply and very little demand . . . .

35 posted on 01/18/2009 6:09:57 PM PST by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse (TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary - recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies ]


To: AnAmericanMother

“About the only exception to this is the Scottish clan system — descendants who can trace to the clan territory are entitled to use the crest of the clan coat of arms only, encircled with a strap and buckle to show that they are clansmen, not direct lineal descendants. But that is unique to the clan system.”

Septs included in this practice? (Like Sterrett, a sept of Clan Douglas)

also spelled Sterritt, Starratt, Starrat, Sterret, and several others.

From village in Ayreshire called Stair, thence to County Derry, thence New England, thence Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Minnesota, California.

My mother’s maiden name—truly Scottish origin.


40 posted on 01/18/2009 6:32:44 PM PST by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson