The Phillips DNA Project News

Do you have a "family" coat of arms? If so, it may not be exactly what you think.  Except for a few individual exceptions from some parts of Eastern Europe, there is no such thing as a coat of arms for a surname - despite the claims and implications of some companies to the contrary.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families or surnames.  A form of property, coats of arms may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.  Click here to read more about coats of arms and heraldry at genealogy.about.com and don't be fooled by companies offering to sell you your family crest or coat of arms.