Hi Tanya. A member of the Beecher family was granted armorial rights on the 6th October 1574. A quick check in Google books shows that a number of people including Americans seem to be have been trying to claim these rights from as far back as 1819. If you search through the many issues of The British herald or Cabinet of armorial bearings of the nobility & gentry via Google books you should find more information including what the coat-of-arms was made up from the motto. However, as it has been said by others, armorial rights are granted to an individual and may only be passed down directly from father to son. No sons and the armorial rights are gone. It was possible to re-apply to get them back in later generations. In some cases coat-of-arms could be given by order of the law to another family. There seems to be a case where a Beecher's armorial rights were given to a member of the Foote family. Armorials rights were officially granted by the relevant authorities, which still exist today and you certainly cannot buy them on the internet. So to answer you question directly in another way. You have to have the exact name of the male claiming these armorial rights and research this person only. You have to find proof that such rights were granted. However for you personally cannot claim or use these rights. Only your husband if a direct descendant of the father to son inheritance system from the original holder can legitimately claim the right to bear arms. Best wishes. Adrian. Hi, I was wondering if any SKS could help me out with the meaning of >> the >> name and the family crest? >> I'm having trouble finding either. >> >> Tanya