Hall of Names's blog

We are very excited to be exhibiting our exclusive range of heraldic gifts again at this year’s Royal Bath and West Show at Shepton Mallet, Somerset. As one of the oldest surviving agricultural shows in the country, the Bath and West is celebrating its 150^th year. There will be a whole host of activities for an action-packed day out, including the chance to see fine livestock, trade stands, and demonstrations at the famous Bath and West Showground, set in the stunning Somerset countryside.

Heraldry and coats of arms are widely researched topics amongst genealogists and those finding out more about their family tree or surname history. The allegories and imagery featured on coats of arms, crests and badges form a fascinating part of genealogical research and these heraldic symbols are often the key to a richly interesting family history.

The heraldic tradition in the UK is a fascinating topic for the family history enthusiast. The heraldic symbols that feature on coats of arms can give a fascinating insight into the achievements of the bearer. Surname history research may have led you to discover a coat of arms within your own family tree and you may wish to discover more about the symbols used in such heraldry. In this second part on the alphabet of heraldry, we look at the symbolism of some of the images form letters I-P.

Heraldry has a tradition going back centuries, and there are heraldic symbols that feature on coats of arms for every letter of the alphabet. If you have been conducting your own surname history research, you may indeed have discovered a coat of arms within your own ancestral heritage - Here are a few of the symbols used in such heraldry, which may help you to decipher the meanings behind some of the imagery.

As one of the largest, most powerful and successful of the Scottish Highland clans, the Campbells emerged as one of the most powerful families in Scotland. It is a familiar Scottish surname but here are a few things you may not have known about the clan history of the Campbells…

Contrary to popular opinion, coats of arms were rarely recorded visually, that is to say in the form of a picture or drawing. And so, today it is often up to the heraldic artist to render arms from a written description. As a result, there is no absolutely correct way to draw or paint a lion rampant, for example; however, the size, proportions and positioning of the lion do follow a precise format that is still observed today.

Essential heraldic pieces

The primary components of heraldry and their individual meanings are fascinating to those researching their surname history or coat of arms. The essential parts are in brief as follows:

We've all got one but have you ever wondered where your name came from and whether it is Christian at all. Not what it means, especially, but how it came about and why your parents chose it.

The history of our Christian names in Britain has developed alongside our language and it may surprise you to know that the majority of the names we use are not native at all.

Are you researching your surname history, celtic origins and heritage? Then you are likely to have heard of 'The White Sails'. But where did this term originate, and why is it of importance to those of Irish or Scottish descent?

As the patron saint of Ireland, it is believed that St Patrick was born in the late 4th century, and he is credited with bringing Christianity to the country. It is said that he used the shamrock as a symbol to explain the holy trinity to the pagans, hence its adoption as the national symbol of Ireland.