Welcome to The Institute of Heraldry Website! The purpose of this site is to provide information on United States heraldic entitlements, how they are displayed, and how and why they are worn.

The origins of heraldry are sometimes associated with the Crusades, a series of military campaigns undertaken by Christian armies from 1096 to 1487, with the goal of reconquering …

Sep 13, 2025 · Heraldry, the science and the art that deal with the use, display, and regulation of hereditary symbols employed to distinguish individuals, armies, institutions, and corporations.

What is Heraldry? Heraldry is both an art form and a science dating back to the middle ages, and even though its origins may be old, its use today is still widespread.

The art and science of devising, displaying, and granting armorial insignia and of tracing and recording genealogies is called heraldry. The use of heraldic symbols, or “coats of arms,” as a …

Heraldry is the practice of devising, granting, displaying, describing, and recording coats of arms and heraldic badges. Officers of arms (Kings of Arms, Heralds and Pursuviants) practice …

Heraldry has been defined as the systematic use of hereditary devices centred on the shield. The first known heraldic shield dates to the second quarter of the twelfth-century, since which time …