Frequently Asked Questions...

 

Where do you get your information? 

On the back of every print is a bibliography which includes some of the sources we use for building the histories. We use all sorts of early records including, tax records, census records, and sources such as the Domesday Book.  Our Bibliography is printed on the back of every A3 print.

Where do the Coats of Arms come from? 

It is really important to note that we are not ‘granting’ Coats of Arms. The Coat of Arms we have on record for each surname is the earliest possible one we can find for a bearer of that name. Our Coats of Arms are for artwork purposes only.

Why is the Coat of Arms is different to one I’ve seen before/one I have? 

This is quite possible and fairly common. Most surnames will have more than one Coat of Arms associated with them - Coats of Arms were passed from Father to Son, so it would have to be ‘differenced’ (or changed) to distinguish it from previous generations’ Coats of Arms. Whilst you have seen a different Coat of Arms it doesn’t mean that either is incorrect, it just means they have been registered to different people at different points in time. The Coat of Arms we have on the system is the oldest one for the name where possible.

Does every name have a Coat of Arms? 

Not every name has a Coat of Arms. However, names have been registered at the College of Arms since 1484. Therefore, it’s likely that most names will have had a Coat of Arms registered at some point.

Why is there no motto on my Coat of Arms? 

Mottoes were optional components of Coats of Arms. Also, before 1600 Coats of Arms didn’t really have mottoes. In general, if there is no motto it is likely that the Coat of Arms was registered pre-1600.

So, is this my Family Tree? 

This is a common question but no, this is not your family tree, but rather a history of the surname. Whereas you trace your Family Tree back, we are coming forwards from the earliest record that can be found with your name. For example, a lot of names were registered in the Domesday Book, the earliest Census records of 1086. We trace the early origins of a name, which is not a particular branch of the family but the history of the name itself. Occasionally, we would hope that in doing your own research you may meet somewhere in the middle if you trace back far enough.

Why don’t you have my name? 

If you cannot find your name in the index books, it is possible that the alphabetical order search is wrong. If it is not found on the computer, then please bear in mind that we have been doing the research for over 35 years. Whilst we have over a million names on the database we haven’t yet researched them all. This sounds a lot but there is still much more research to be done. Every name ‘not found’ gets added to the system and we send them back to the researchers. We get updates once a year, so keep trying as it will get there eventually!’

How much does it cost? 

We offer a range of options to suit all budgets so please refer to our online store for individual prices.​

How long does it take? / Do you mail them to me? 

If ordering in person at one of our scheduled events, it takes only a few minutes to print whilst you wait. All the histories are already prepared in the computer and we simply print them for you. Any orders online have a 10 - 14 days estimated delivery time.

​Why don't you have (Greek, Swiss etc.) names?

We have many names of foreign origin and although we don’t have your particular name at the moment, we are very likely to in the future. Our historians are constantly adding new names to the library as the information is found and whilst we may not have your name today, we probably have a friend or relative's name. Why not take a second to check - they make excellent gifts!