Crests and Mottoes
In feudal times, or roughly from the 11th through the 15th centuries, a knight would have been identified on the field of battle by the arms emblazoned over his armour. His crest would be visible on his banner, and his mottoe would in theory define his nature or character as he or others saw it. Each and every part of this would have been personal or private. But over the centuries families adopted the motto for general use, adapted the crest to reflect family identification as the clansman's badge, but left the arms in theory if not in fact as a personal identification of the particular family member.
