Heraldic registries
Aside from
the legally constituted heraldic authorities, there are numerous semi-official
and unofficial armorial registries. They may be divided into categories by
countries:
Since 1918
German law has provided for the existence of non-profit private heraldic associations
(heraldische Gemeinschaften) which enroll the arms of private citizens. These enrolments are protected under the
Code of Civil Law (bürgerliche Gesetzbuch).
The Low Countries were
united as the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, and were divided in 1830 at the time of the
Belgian revolt. The royal arms and those of the provinces, local governments
and other official authorities, as well as the arms of the nobility, are under
official control, but those of private citizens are not. A number of regional
heraldic registries fill this need.
When France was ruled by the kings of the House of Capet, it had no
provision for heralds to grant coat-armour, a situation which continues to this
day in the French Republic.
The private
arms of Swiss citizens have always been unregulated, although both burghers and
farmers make widespread use of heraldry. Some cantons record such arms,
although no provision is made for legal protection. Two private associations
also offer a similar service.
While
armorial practice varies from country to country in Scandinavia, the arms
of private citizens are subject to no State control. There are four private
associations (two in Sweden, two in Finland) that cater for private arms.
In the English-speaking
world there are heraldic authorities in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. Australia formally falls under the authority of the College of Arms
in London, but has little effective control over heraldry. The United States military establishment has the Institute of Heraldry, but there is no formal control over the arms of either
state or local governments or those of private citizens in the US. Americans, in particular, make use of a number of private
registries.
Practice
varies considerably from one Slavic country to another. In most of them,
heraldry almost died out under communist rule, but has once more flourished
since 1991. Some have heraldic offices, but none provide for the granting or
registration of the arms of private citizens. Two countries, the Czech Republic and Serbia, have private associations operating unofficial registers
of personal arms.
The webmaster’s thanks to Joseph McMillan of the American Heraldry Society for his research into these registries.
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submit additional sites for inclusion here. Write to the webmaster.
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