What is a family crest?

What is a family crest?

Peter O'Donoghue (Bluemantle Pursuivant ) gives expert video advice on: What is Heraldry?; What is a pedigree?; How do I begin to research my pedigree? and more...

Crests are the devices shown on top of the helmet. They arose in medieval times when knights took part in tournaments, and they wanted a way of adding to the heraldic display of the parades associated with tournaments. They seem to have originated in the plates attached to the tops of helmets to deflect blows. If somebody is going to hit you over the top of the head with a sword, it's a good idea to attach a big plate of metal to your head, to your helmet, to deflect the blow. Eventually those plates became more elaborate, became decorated, and they evolved into crests.