Ireland HeraldryEdit This Page From FamilySearch Wiki Heraldry
is the designing, use, regulation, and recording of coats of
arms and related emblems. Coats of arms were granted to
individuals, not families or surnames. Coats of arms were
originally granted to identify individuals in battle.
Eventually, the crown began to grant coats of arms to people who
performed heroic deeds, made notable achievements, or held
prominent positions. The right to use a coat of arms could be
inherited only by legitimate male descendants of the person to
whom the coat was granted. Most Irish ancestors did not have a
coat of arms. Grants of arms in Ireland have been recorded since
1552 by a representative of the crown called the Ulster King of
Arms. Since Edward VI created the office of Ulster King of Arms
in 1552, most of those who have obtained coats of arms through
that office have been people of English descent living in
Ireland. The native Irish originally did not believe in the
granting of arms by a herald, so until the lat