hi rory, sorry to hear about kevin, i met sean a few years ago while fishing in ballybay he was on holidays. regarding family crests there are a lot of con men on the web who will sell you anything. i have seen several different mc bride coat of arms so may i suggest you refer to the royal college of arms site.Heraldry, with its Coat of Arms and Crests although viewed by many as an ancient art form, is an exciting picture language in colour with its heraldic signs and symbols often incorporate a glorious mêlée of golden crowns and coronets, lions, eagles, fabulous beasts and mythological creatures, birds, fishes, flowers and busts of men and women. Heraldry is often seen as much of a science as an art and often refers to the design of the Achievements for a particular surname which is also often linked to a specific place or occupation. It emerged at a time during the mid-12 century when fighting men became unrecognizable inside their suits of armour to both friend and foe alike. It soon emerged that by decorating the shield with a design that was unique to that particular person it could also be seen from a distance. Heraldry began to grow into a science of heraldry with its own unique language and system of laws to regulate and record it accurately.
With common names like Smith, there are many different designs of Arms for the same surname with each of these designs often represent a completely different locality and lineage. Coats of Arms often also vary according to the generations, as in most countries the original design of Coat of Arms were handed down from father to the oldest son. The succeeding son's Arms were can also be slightly modified to reflect his own individual achievement. This has resulted in several different design of Arms for descendants of the same family gradually being developed over a period of many generations.
It is therefore important when following the rules of Heraldry, when anyone is attempting to have a coat of arms produced that is associated with their own particular surname and they can therefore prove direct descent in the male line from the original bearer of the arms. This will insure that the design of the coat of arms is in fact directly linked to their own particular family and not simply someone who is unrelated, but happens to share the same surname as their own; i cannot remember your dad but if he remembers me give him my regards. peter
