Heraldry

Of course a search, using one of the search engines, will turn up
many more sites. Our goal here is to help the researcher who is
particularly interested in the British Isles.

There is no such thing as a family crest that can be used by anyone
with a particular surname. Crests are part of a total achievement of arms
(that includes a coat of arms), and in the British Isles are granted to
individuals and their male descendants.

• Heraldica includes the FAQ for the rec.heraldry newsgroup
• Heraldry
  
• Irish Nobility, Heraldry, and Genealogy
• The College of Arms - England & Wales
  
• Heraldry in Scotland
  
• Coats of Arms
  
• English Dictionary for Heraldry
  
• The Heraldry Society
  
• American College of Heraldry
  
• Heraldry on the Internet
  
• Irish Coats of Arms
• More Coats of Arms and Surnames Explained
  
  
• International CIVIC Arms
  
  
  
• Rare Irish Coins and Medals
  
  BOOKS
• Fairbairn's Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 19th century with various editions, eg. 4th dated 1905. It's a two volume set with text of index and motto in volume I and illustrations in volume II. It is quite easy to find in libraries and has been reprinted quite cheaply in recent years as ISBN 1 85079 155 4.
  
  
• Knight & Butter's Book of Family Crests. Very similar to Fairbairn above, late 19th cent, London 1883 (?), again in two volumes with similar layout.

Office of the Chief Herald, 2 Kildare St, Dublin 2.

Heraldry Soc of Ireland, Castle Matrix, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick

For medals:
Medal Society of Ireland, P. Casey, 1 The Hill, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin