Bladerdash, Mr. Eastman, ..if a person feels proud of his ancestry and wants to us that family coat of arms, there is simply no reason why they should not. We are not talking about aristocracy here. If I decide to use the Guthrie coat of arms on my website or stationary I'll do so. I'm not indicating I am the one "next in line" to inherit. I'm saying I'm proud to be a Guthrie and proud of the traditions that the coat of arms represent. The rich cultural heritage that you talk about no longer has any reason for being. The way it's being used and understood today has more reason and purpose than merely to indicate the one individual "next in line" It is used today to indicate that a person is a member of a family, not to mean the head of the family. You failed to point out that when a person was granted the use of a coat of arms they were responsible for all those other folks in their family and extended family and were supposed to protect and care for them. Sort of like gangs do today. Finally most "heads of family" cannot be determined today. No proper individual could be identified to wear the coat of arms. So again, your rich tradition is dying if not dead. Bladerdash. Larry lguthrie@brightok.net