The Origins of Heraldry part 4

When Did Heraldry Begin in Europe?

The use of heraldry—those distinctive coats of arms and family symbols we still admire today—first appeared in Western Europe during the 12th century.

At that time, there were no newspapers, magazines, or daily journals to record everyday happenings. The few people who did keep written records were usually monks, and their focus was on major national events or matters concerning their monasteries. As a result, no one thought to document the exact moment when coats of arms came into use, any more than they bothered to note every change in armor styles between 1066 and 1455.

Instead, historians have had to piece together the story of heraldry’s beginnings from scattered clues left behind in the art and architecture of the period. We find evidence in the brass memorials in churches, the carvings on tombs, the coloured designs in stained glass windows, and the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Seals used by kings and nobles also provide valuable insights.

Perhaps most importantly, we have the early rolls of arms—official records kept by heralds—dating from around 1240. These documents give us some of the earliest systematic glimpses into how coats of arms were designed, used, and passed down through generations.

In short, heraldry emerged quietly, woven into the fabric of medieval life, and only later did it become the richly documented tradition we know today.

One fascinating early example of heraldic evidence comes from an illuminated miniature in the Luttrell Psalter, created around 1340 (see image above). The illustration depicts Sir Geoffrey Luttrell alongside his wife and daughter-in-law, and it’s full of rich heraldic detail.

Sir Geoffrey’s coat of arms appears multiple times in the scene. His arms are described in heraldic language as “azure, a bend between six martlets argent”—which means a blue shield featuring a diagonal band with six small silver birds (martlets) arranged around it.

Both women in the image wear gowns that display a combination of heraldic symbols: the Luttrell arms are shown impaled with the arms of their fathers’ families. “Impaling” means the shield is split vertically down the middle, with one family’s coat of arms on one side and the other family’s on the opposite side—a visual symbol of the union between two lineages.