How to Design Your Own Coat of Arms
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If you have already designed your own coat of arms...
The following questions may address any further queries you may have regarding the use of heraldry:
This content is for reference only and does not constitute professional legal advice. Should you require guidance on legal matters, such as commercial applications, please consult a solicitor.
Do I need to formally apply to any authority or submit a request to have my self-designed coat of arms officially granted?
Your self-designed arms fall under the heraldic category of 'assumed arms'. There is no official body or governing authority in Hong Kong possessing the power to grant coats of arms.
If you design your own coat of arms, provided it does not infringe upon others' copyright, trademarks, or other relevant statutory laws, you may freely use it in private contexts such as personal documents, correspondence, websites, and items without requiring any official approval or registration procedures.
May I use my own designed coat of arms overseas?
This depends on the specific heraldic regulations of the country or region concerned.
In certain countries or regions, such as England and Scotland, the use of coats of arms is regulated. Under traditional heraldic law, a coat of arms should be formally granted or confirmed by an official authority, such as the College of Arms in England or the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland. In modern practice, these official bodies do not actively enforce such regulations, but in legal terms, the unauthorised adoption of a coat of arms is not entirely permissible.
If I wish to seek a coat of arms granted by an overseas official authority, what can I do?
Please bear in mind that if you merely intend to use a coat of arms, you do not actually need any official permission. An application to an official heraldic authority is only required if you wish to obtain a formally granted coat of arms for personal interest, decorative purposes, or symbolic use.
Many countries and regions around the world maintain official bodies responsible for granting or registering coats of arms. Broadly speaking, they fall into two categories:
1. Countries operating under a traditional granting system
Examples include England, Scotland, Canada, and certain republics such as Ireland and Kenya. These places still retain a formal granting procedure.
2. Countries operating primarily under a registration system
For instance, Slovakia, where the official authority mainly handles the registration of arms rather than their grant.
Please note that some countries do have heraldic authorities, but their services are limited to municipalities, government departments, or other official bodies, and they do not grant arms to private individuals.
When choosing where to apply, you may first consider countries with which you have the strongest cultural, ancestral, or legal connection, and submit an application to their official heraldic authority.
If you have no clear connection with any country that maintains an official granting body, you may consider applying to jurisdictions that are more open, such as Malta or South Africa.
If the official routes above are not feasible, or are too costly or stringent, there are private organisations or commercial heraldic design companies that offer parchment-style certificates resembling traditional grants. However, be aware that the authority of such bodies is often disputed, and their products are suitable only for decorative or symbolic purposes.