text: There is no such thing as a "Family" crest, although a dozen merchants will sell you a crest or coat of arms that was once issued to someone with your surname. Just Google "Coat of Arms" and look for a linkk neding in ".com".\n\nTwo genealogy programs will help you trace your family history, \nFamily Tree Maker\nRoots Magic\n\nThere are others. FTM is the market leader, I like RM better. They are both $29. Neither will do the work for you. They are to family History what "Word" is to a term paper - tools. You have to do the work. They make it easier, but it would take a couple of hours a week for a month or two on your part to get a good foundation.\n\nWrite if you are still interested. Most Yahoo! users are not.\n\nFrom Wikipedia:\n\nThe descent of arms was and remains strictly regulated by inheritance; only certain actual descendents of a particular armigerous (arms-bearing) person are entitled to his arms or a differenced version of them — hence popular associations of a coat of arms with all bearers of a surname are based on a misconception. Heraldry is mostly a hobby today; but in some countries (e.g. Scotland) it remains regulated by heralds and the assumption of another's arms is illegal.\n\nThe word "crest" is commonly used to refer to a coat-of-arms. However, in heraldry, a crest is just one component of a complete achievement of arms. The crest sits atop a helmet, which itself sits on the main and most recognizable part of the arms, the shield or escutcheon. Other elements may include supporters holding up the shield and a motto beneath. Crests can in fact be used on their own (this is particularly useful when there is insufficient space to display the entire coat-of-arms); but where the shield alone is used it should never be called a "crest".