Who were Coats Of Arms granted to?

Who were Coats Of Arms granted to?

Peter O'Donoghue (Bluemantle Pursuivant ) gives expert video advice on: How do I trace my Coat of Arms?; Can I trace my Coat of Arms by using my surname alone?; I'm Scottish, how can I trace my Clan badge? and more...

In medieval times, Coats of Arms were granted to nobles, knights, esquires (people who were slightly below the rank of knights), and gentlemen who were essentially anybody else who owned a bit of land and had a reasonable income. That was the case until the early modern period when the concept of a gentleman was expanded so you get more and more professionals, administrators, civil servants, successful merchants rising up and being counted as a gentleman, and therefore eligible for a coat of arms. Today, new coats of arms are granted to those regarded as being of prominence in the community. This essentially refers to those who have served in any public capacity who have achieved something with their life, who have done something with their life, and/or who are successful people who are respected in the community.