For Irish families and the Irish diaspora

Design an Irish Family Crest

Shamrocks, Celtic crosses, knotwork and the oak: design a crest that celebrates Irish roots, with real heraldic colors and the meaning of every part. Designing is free and needs no account. When you love it, $9 gets the whole set: print-ready art (4000 px PNG and SVG), a certificate of arms explaining its meaning, a profile picture and a phone wallpaper. For a family gift or a wax seal, the $19 Heirloom set adds an engraving, seal, bookplates and a house banner. For a club, team or business, the $29 Logo Kit adds logo, icon, banner and brand files.

Design an Irish crest

Coat of arms of The Murphy Family: a green shield and a gold shamrock, motto "Erin go Bragh" — The Murphy Family

Coat of arms of The Kelly Family: a blue shield and a gold Celtic cross, motto "Fortis et Fidelis" — The Kelly Family

Coat of arms of The O'Brien Family: a green shield and a gold oak tree, motto "Root and Branch" — The O'Brien Family

Coat of arms of The Walsh Family: a red shield and a silver Celtic triquetra knot, motto "Together Always" — The Walsh Family

Coat of arms of The Byrne Family: a blue shield and a silver stag's head with antlers, motto "Faith and Courage" — The Byrne Family

First, the honest part

Many sites sell "the Murphy coat of arms" or "the Kelly crest" as if everyone with a surname shares one. In Irish heraldry, as in English and Scottish, arms belong to a particular person and their descendants, and new arms are granted by the Chief Herald of Ireland. Arms listed under a surname usually belonged to one chief or one family line, which may have no connection to yours.

So the honest and more personal option is to design your own: a crest for your family as it is today, built from symbols that mean something to you. If you would like official arms, you can apply to the Office of the Chief Herald, part of the National Library of Ireland.

Irish symbols for your crest

Shamrock: the three-leaved emblem linked with Saint Patrick and with Ireland itself. It stands for faith and good fortune.
Celtic cross: a cross with a ring around its center, the shape of the high crosses carved across early medieval Ireland.
Triquetra: a three-cornered knot from early Celtic art, a symbol of unity and of things that endure.
Oak tree: honored in old Ireland. Derry comes from the Irish Doire, oak grove, and Kildare from Cill Dara, church of the oak.
Stag: the red deer, native to Ireland, which stands for peace and harmony in heraldry.

Colors with an Irish feel

Green is the obvious choice; in heraldry it is called Vert and stands for hope and joy. Blue has an older claim: Saint Patrick's blue was long associated with Ireland, and the arms of Ireland are a gold harp on a blue field. Put a gold or silver emblem on either and you follow the heraldic rule of tincture.

Mottos

Popular choices include Erin go Bragh (Ireland forever, an anglicized form of the Irish Éirinn go brách), Latin mottos such as Fortis et Fidelis (strong and faithful), or a line your family actually says. The Latin motto generator has more with translations.

Making it a gift? A crest with the family name and a certificate explaining every symbol makes a lovely present for Saint Patrick's Day, a wedding or a reunion. See family crest gifts.

Design an Irish crest

Questions

Is there an official coat of arms for my Irish surname?

No. Irish arms are granted to individuals and their descendants, not to everyone who shares a surname. Arms sold under a surname usually belonged to one chief or one family line.

Who grants coats of arms in Ireland?

The Chief Herald of Ireland, whose office is part of the National Library of Ireland. People of Irish descent living abroad can apply too.

What symbols are Irish?

The shamrock, the harp, the Celtic cross and Celtic knotwork such as the triquetra are the most recognizable. The oak and the red deer also have deep roots in Ireland.

Can I get the crest printed?

Yes. The $9 download includes a 4000 px print file and an SVG, which any print shop or print-on-demand service can use for framed prints, mugs or reunion shirts.