or family crest for the Bright family.?

Question:I've looked at different web sites but i've heard there may be more than one version. The family is originally from England. I'm trying to find a reliable picture. Thanks

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've looked at different web sites but i've heard there may be more than one version. The family is originally from England. I'm trying to find a reliable picture. Thanks

There is no such thing as a family crest.

A crest is part of a coat of arms. They do not belong to surnames. They were and are granted to individuals and are passed down through the direct male line of descent. Actually, there might have been, for instance, 15 different individuals named Bright, not all necessarily related, that were each granted their own coat of arms, all different. Peddlers that sell them on the internet, at shopping malls, at airport, in magazines or solicit through the U.S. mails won't have all 15. They don't need to in order to sell to gullible people. The only time they will have more than one is if the same surname crosses national borders.

The one you would buy from any of those people are usually valid and the small family history they have with it will be valid, but it might not be your particular Bright family's history at all.

There are no laws regarding heraldry in the U.S and there are merchants of deceit that take advantage of Americans. In some countries a person would risk prosecution for displaying a coat of arms without documented proof that they are entitled to it.

See the links below, one from the British College of Arms (they issue coats of arms) and the other from the most prestigious genealogical organization in the U.S., The Naitonal Genealogical Society.

http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Faq.ht...

http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comconsumerp...

I might add you could have more than one in your family tree. That doesn't necessarily mean you are entitled to any one of them. It just means after doing research and finding various ancestors that were granted coats of arms, if you have a book printed or even published on your family history, it is quite valid for you to put pictures of your ancestors' coats of arms in your book.

If you have any English lines that goes back to early colonial days in the American South, you have an excellent opportunity of finding several in your family tree. Actually, some in the South have the ones their ancestors brought over from England 300-400 years ago. They aren't those dinky little walnut plaques that some silly people have on their den walls either. They usually don't display them. They aren't the least bit good for buying groceries and you know something else. Walmart won't even take them.

Shirley T is correct don't forget to vote for her for best answer