Many thanks for all the comments received as a result of my request for further information on crests and coats of arms associated with MARTER/MARTYR individuals and families. As a Brit who has now moved to Texas, USA, and as a family historian who has been on the trail of ALL English and Commonwealth persons with the family names of MARTER and MARTYR, for 15 years, I am more than aware of the problems of 'bogus' information in relation to all things heraldic. I have more than 2,500 names of MARTER, MARTIR, MARTAR, and MARTYR in family trees from Surrey, Kent and elsewhere in the Commonwealth (as was) and with the three seemingly 'genuine' crests and one confirmed granted coat of arms I have traced, all I am just trying to find out to whom they were originally granted, if indeed they were. As many of you have suggested the College of Arms is my next port of call but am trying to get 'all my ducks in a row' before incurring too much expense. Tony Marter -----Original Message----- From: ELIZABETH EVERS <[email protected]> To: eng-surrey <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Jul 29, 2011 10:50 am Subject: Re: [SRY] Family Crests MARTER and MARTYR o expound on Mikes statement. I have lived in the USA for a number of years and ave tried to explain to people here that Coats of Arms are not given to a articular surname but to an individual and possibly their direct line. Sorry to ay a lot of Americans can not seem to grasp this concept. There are also a lot f bogus companies who will sell you a "family crest" even at some state fairs I ave attended and the number of people I see buying them. I even went to the rouble and expense of seeing what they would send for my surname. Surprise urprise I received one, but to my family members on this site....no we do not nd have never had a Coat of Arms. Mike I hope your explanation helps some of verseas cousins understand how this works. Elizabeth > Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:17:49 -0400 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [SRY] Family Crests MARTER and MARTYR In England there is no such thing as a 'Family' crest. Coats of arms were awarded to individuals and can be passed down like other property to individuals. The fact you may share a name with sombody who, in the past, was awarded a coat of arms does not by any means mean you have an automatic right to lay claim to that item. Not even if you can prove some form of direct descendency from them.