Heraldry

The heraldic shield, that colorful ornament of medieval chivalry, remains an important part of our modern world, and those interested in family history often find it increasingly attractive but mysterious.

Many writers argue that it was not until a generation after the First Crusade (1096-1099) that unmistakable evidence for heraldic designs appeared, but the evidence that does exist must be interpreted within the definition of heraldry.

Heraldry originated when most people were illiterate, but they could easily recognize a bold, striking, and simple design. The use of heraldry in medieval warfare allowed combatants to distinguish one knight in chain mail from another and thus distinguish between friend and foe.

If the genealogy is common, the same does not happen with heraldry, limited to those who have the right to use a coat of arms, generally as a consequence of the granting of a title. The shield, therefore, is not proper to a surname but to a lineage, that is, of people who descend from the one to whom the right to the shield was granted.

Most lineages do not have a shield, so if a person wants to know if they have the right to one, they must do their genealogy until they reach that ancestor who was granted the right to the shield.

FOSTER

SI FRACTUS FORTIS

Foster's accepted coat of arms is a silver-colored shield with a green chevron and three hunter horns. Above the shield is a single-armed armored helmet, folded over and holding in hand a broken slanted spear. This suggests that the state of the spear could, in fact, be indicating victory.

The Latin parchment at the bottom reads 'Si Fractus Fortis', 'If it's broken, it's still strong'.

HANSON

SOLA VIRTUS INVICTA

Hanson is an old Anglo-Saxon name derived from the baptismal name of the son of John or Hans.

In England, the name is mainly found in the Midlands and the North of England. When of Scandinavian origin, Hanson is an anglicized form of Hannson or Hansen.

There are few traces of the name in the Hundred Scrolls of 1273. However, the great business between the Netherlands and the English in the 14th century made foreign forms familiar, especially in counties like Yorkshire.

The motto is 'Sola Virtus Invicta', virtue alone is invincible.

FORBES

GRACE ME GUIDE

The surname 'Forbes' originates from Scotland. Information gathered from historical and private archives has confirmed that the surname 'Forbes' and / or its variant dates back to the 13th century when a family held the main barony of the Scottish nobility, as well as the Irish title of Earl of Granard. The land from which the surname is derived was given in a letter to 'Duncan de forbes' by Alexander III around 1271.

TAYLOR

IN CRUCE SALUS

Variants of the name Taylor include Tayler, Tailor, and Tayleur. It means 'The Taylor', cloth cutter and garment maker, this was a very important profession in medieval times.

This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent and spread to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in early times and is found in many medieval manuscripts throughout the aforementioned islands.

The name translates into Gaelic as 'Tailliuir', and the family crest was born many centuries ago. The motto is 'In Cruce Salus', Salvation of the Cross.

TURNER

NE OARCAS NEC SPERNA, NEITHER SPARE NO DISPOSE

Turner is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was triggered by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Turner is a name for a lathe worker. The surname Turner was originally derived from the French verb tourneour, which means to turn on a lathe. Such a craftsman would basically have cylindrical objects made of wood, metal, and bone.

JACKSON

CELER ET AUDAX

Engraved in the spellings of Jackson, Jacson, Jagson, and Jaxon, this is a famous English and occasionally Scottish surname.

It's a patronymic formed from the personal names Jaques or John, both originating from the ancient Hebrew "Yochanan", which means 'Jehovah has favored me (with a son)'.

The name was first introduced by the Crusaders returning from the Holy Land in the 12th century, and its popularity grew rapidly.

The shield is silver with a black chevron on which there are three cinquefoils between three eagle heads, and the crest is a silver horse.

The motto is 'Celer et Audax', which means Fast and Bold.