There is some controversy as to how old heraldry dates back, but it can be reliably stated as around 1100 AD. Heraldry has a language that is used to describe coats of arms, it is called blazon. This is the language that describes the coat of arms itself. There are over 800 terms in blazon. The term is derived from the French blazon. The word is a verb and a noun. The language is of early French and later some form of early English. This is the terminology used by heralds to record coats of arms and crests. For instance, the coat of arms that were issued to the Wayne of Derby are described as follows: Gules a chevron ermine between three dexter gauntlets or. Blazon explains what colors are used and the general description of the Arms.
There are colors called "tinctures", metals, gold= or, silver= argent, the colors are five main tinctures, azure=blue, gules=red, sable=black, vert=green, purpure=purple, the furs are ermine, white field with black spots; and ermines black field with white spots. There is a science as to how a coat of arms is drawn, never a metal on metal or fur on fur, nor color upon color.
Some background in Heraldry would be helpful at this point. There is a large misunderstanding about Coats of Arms. A lot of people confuse them with a crest or a badge. Let me state that a crest cannot of itself exist without a coat of arms having been issued.
The history of the Herald dates back to around 1356. There is record of a book published on a short treatise, Tractatus de insigniis et armis by Bartolo da Sassoferrato. American scholar L.M. Mladen said "Charles(IV) was in all probability the first ruler ever to grant arms".
Etymology The initial meaning of the term herald is uncertain. Some derive the word from two German words, Heer, "a host", and Held, "a champion". Webster defines herald as someone proclaims important news or event. One who announces.
In the beginning the heralds were more or less menials, ranked with jugglers and the minstrels, dependent on the great lords. First used as messengers, they were later used in the jousts and tourneys to announce the contenders. Sometimes they were often paid to go into the villages and spread rumors about the opposing fighter, and to "advertise" the tournament. To identify the knights, they had to know the arms on the shields, and from this grew their knowledge and skill in the art of heraldry.
In later times the herald became an important office of the sovereigns. There still exists in Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada offices of the herald. Over time the kings gathered together the heralds and formed colleges. The King of France did so in 1407, the King of England in 1484. The College of Arms in England has been housed in the same building for over three hundred years. The Herald became the one to issue coats of arms and to record them. In some countries the people that held the coat of arms were taxed yearly, France required everyone to have a crest, and a fee was charged.
The Lord Lyon, is the head of the Scottish heralds. The English Herald is under the control of the earl of marshal from the family of the duke of Norfolk. Under him are 13 officers of arms, three king of arms, Garter, Norroy and Ulster, and Clarenceux, six heralds; Windsor, Richmond, York, Lancaster, Chester, and Somerset.
In England an important development occurred, the Heraldic Vistations. From 1530 to 1686 to the reign of King James II, commissions were issued by the sovereign to the heralds directing them to proceed to a county in England or Wales and to inspect the arms in use there. The records of the Visitations became an important asset to genealogist as well as to heraldry itself. From the period of the Visitations the Heralds built up huge collections of family history and began to record pedigrees in their registers. The study of heraldry itself is an important tool to genealogy. Please visit this site for a comprehensive study on this subject. http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/
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The Battle of Fallen Timbers................................... Battle of Fallen Timbers
Plantations of Georgia............................................. Anthony Wayne In Georgia
Saint David's ........................................................... St. David's Church
Wayne's of Savannah Georgia............................... Savannah Wayne's
Henry Wayne.......................................................... Henry C. Wayne
Family Arms............................................................ Coats of Arms
History of Heraldry............................................... Heraldry
Coats of Arms........................................................ Armory
Descendant Report................................................ Descendants of Richard Wayne
Family Documents.................................................. Wills, Documents and Letters
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English History of Waynes.....................................English Ancestory
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