Heraldic Beasts?

[davidlpope]

Thanks for the fascinating links.


Among the signers is one armiger whose claim is described as "English grant olf 1768 to the signer and other descendants of his grandfather". In fact, I am a descendant of that same grandfather (though not of the signer) - along with several hundred living cousins. In additional fact, I have a ring bearing those arms, inherited from my great grandfather. Now that we are in the Heraldry forum, does this entitle me to bear those arms? My guess is that nothing in US law prohibits it, but my conviction is that dozens of others are more entitled.

Can we have a three minute explication of matriculation for Americans?

Lucky you! If you can trace your surname ancestry (supported by sufficient proofs) to an individual who was granted those arms you should be able to matriculate them, or be granted a variation of them (some traditions requiring differencing of the arms, where only the eldest son inherits the undifferenced arms). If they are "English" arms, they would have been granted by the College of Arms. Please see the link below for more info. One note, however, is that the COA makes honorary grants of arms, rather than substantive grants, to Americans. That and the fees charged are quite pricey.

http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/About/08.htm

David