History of North America

What does coat of arms mean?

A coat of arms is a heraldic design on a shield, surcoat, or tabard that is used to represent an individual, family, municipality or other entity. These designs are usually registered and protected by the government and are often used to represent a person's or family's history and lineage.

The term "coat of arms" comes from the French phrase "cotte d'armes", which means "tunic of arms". This phrase referred to the surcoat, a garment that was worn over armour, that often displayed a person's coat of arms.