Dear
Lisa,
A coat
of arms is property. All rights to its use are vested in the grantee and
the grantee's descendants. This, effectively, means descendants of the
grantee's name. The coincidence of a surname does not impart or imply any
right to arms that have been granted to another. There is certainly no sucht
hing as a coat of arms that can be used by anyone called McGinty,
Gilmore or any other name.
There
are certainly unscrupulous people who will sell anybody something which isc
laimed to be the customer's 'family coat of arms'. While this Office is
the State's authority on heraldry, we are not the heraldry police. It
would be up to the person whose arms have been appropriated to take a civil
action. By the nature of the offence the offended party is seldom aware of
what is happening. There is no reason why Ms McGinty should not decorate
her front hall with a shield of arms to which an unrelated McGinty has ther
ights (though it is unlikely she would wish to do so). If, however, she
places them outside of her house; uses them on her writing paper or in any
othe way uses them as if they were her own, she is certainly wrong to do
so. Ms McGinty can no more use someone else's arms than she can drive away
his motor-car simply because she shares a surname.
If
your are an Irish citizen or resident in Ireland or a person of provable Irish
descent born abroad, you can apply to the Chief Herald for a Grant of
Arms. If you e-mail me your postal address I will arrange to send
you some details of procedures and fees.
I hope
that this is of use to you.
Kind
regards,
Fergus Gillespie
Deputy Chief Herald of
Ireland
I am wondering, and perhaps you could tell
me....
I see 'places' on line that offer shields and
coat of arms for clans etc. In fact upon researching my own lines (McGinty and
Gilmore/Gilmour) I am finding different ones. Is there a way to find out which
is authentic and not a sales ploy?
An example is shown here
How do I know what, if any, is the correct
sheild?
Any help appreciated.
Lisa
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