I was wondering what the practice is of female armigers. Did they have a crest? Do they have a crest? The practice here in the U.S. is? Just curious on the history and the best practices of this subject.
The English rule is that (except for the queen) women do not bear crests.
The Scottish rule allows women to bear crests under certain circumstances, typically but not exclusively when they are the head of their name or clan.
It has been common practice in the present-day U.S. since colonial times for women to use crests, so common that in the late 19th century Eugene Zieber complained about it. See the AHS guidelines for heraldic practice for our society’s view on this issue, http://www.americanheraldry.org/pages/index.php?n=Guide.Guidelines#toc7
Yes, thank you. I had read the information listed in the guidelines, but wanted to know about modern day practices here and how it has been in th UK. Thank you!!
In correspondence a few years ago, the Clerk of the Lyon Court informed me that the use of crests by women in Scotland although exactly as Joe states—is beginning to include women who have government service as well. She didn’t provide specific parameters beyond that, though.
Kathy McClurg;100222 wrote:
In correspondence a few years ago, the Clerk of the Lyon Court informed me that the use of crests by women in Scotland although exactly as Joe states—is beginning to include women who have government service as well. She didn’t provide specific parameters beyond that, though.
Well, herself, for instance.
I reckon the broken scepter is the result of her bashing many of us over the head (ever so gently and politely).
(。_+) *\(^_^)
owch!@%#
It strikes me (no pun intended) that Kathy did say "parameters" and I obviously was minus my 2nd cup of coffee when I read "examples." What I posted was an example rather than a parameter.
But as Lyon is a law unto himself, I’m not sure there are ever any parameters that one could describe with any confidence.