Quote Originally Posted by Oberu View Post
Here is my family's CoA and happily I've just noticed that I've got kin here.
I believe the translation is "The stronger hand above" though there seems to be some difference of opinions here. By the way.. my name is Paul O'Briant. Seems the "t" on the end has been rumored to have been a cross and was a notation for catholicism when our lot came over. The spelling was most likely penned the way the recorder thought that it spelled and I guess the cross was just a little too close to the name and stuck... So most O'Brien, O'Brian, O'Bryan, O'Brient, O'Bryant and yes O'Briant are likely kinfolk. I've chased the line back to Brian Boru (kinda popular fella back in the day) if any of you O'B's out there are interested.
The likely reason that there is a "T" on the end of your name is that your immigrant ancestor was unable to write. On an official form someone would have written "Fred O'Brian" and your ancestor would have put his "mark" an "x" or a "t" next to it. Later that mark would have been incorporated into the name as a letter-- changing O'Brian into O'Briant. A not uncommon occurrence.

The arms that you have posted are actually the arms of Conor O'Brien, Lord Inchquinn, Chief of Clan O'Brien. While it is great to display the arms of your clan chief, they are actually his property, and his property alone. Should you wish to have a personal coat of arms, as long as you can trace back to your immigrant O'Briant ancestor, the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland should be willing to grant you arms based on those of your chief.