The  process of being granted ARMS started  with research into past family arms and understanding the complex regulations and traditions of preparing ARMS. Each set of arms is unique and held by a specific family member. Generic family name plaques are available in shops or through the internet to represent a  recognition of  common identity. Arms represent one individual and remains corporeal property, copyrighted and protected.  
 

In the distant and medieval past ARMS were a way of identifying who was who in battle and in societies across Europe in particular and  the known world.

In the heraldic traditions of England and Scotland, an individual, rather than a family, had a coat of arms. In those traditions coats of arms are legal property transmitted from father to son

Wives and daughters could also bear arms modified to indicate their relation to the current holder of the arms. 

Other descendants of the original bearer could bear the ancestral arms only with some difference: usually a colour change or the addition of a distinguishing charge.

The use of arms was and remains strictly regulated. This is carried out by heralds and the study of coats of arms is therefore called "heraldry".

In London the College of Arms holds the records of Arms and through their offices and heralds Arms are painstakingly managed.

In Scotland the Lord Lyon, currently Dr Joseph Morrow, heads and directs the office of Arms, receiving applications, researching rights, and ensuring that the traditions and rules are followed.

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I am indebted to Lord Lyon and his office for guiding me through this process and to Allen Crawford for his patience in creating and adapting the design to an exemplary and unique interpretation of the individual components and also to Ross McEwen a learned and enthusiastic historian of heraldry for his encouragement and support.