You've probably seen web sites and businesses stating that they are experts or specialists in tracing the origin of your surname and informing you that they have many thousands of name origins in their "database". They will probably boast that each Surname History will tell you where the name comes from i.e. is it truly English or did it come over with the Norman Conquest or the Vikings etc. These sites and businesses will helpfully inform you that not every surname has a Coat of Arms but they promise that if there is one, they will describe it to you in heraldic detail and even produce a picture of it if you wish!

Before you are tempted to obtain your "family coat of arms" or your "surname history", you ought to read the note produced by the Society of Genealogists entitled "The Right to Arms" which will tell you that if you purchase a coat of arms from these "Bucket Shops", it won't be your coat of arms but will belong to someone else and will have been plucked at random from such publications as Burke's General Armory.

If you are interested in coats of arms (armorial bearings) then we can recommend a number of good books, some of which can be found in your reference library and we would be pleased to answer some of your questions but we won't recommend that you purchase the services of one of these businesses.

N.B. The coat of arms illustrated on our web page logo is the achievement of Shropshire County Council and is used by The Shropshire Heraldry Society solely to illustrate its connection with the geographical county of Shropshire. It does NOT belong to any family or individual with the surname of Shropshire. This web site is not a surname website.