Armiger

An armiger is a person or corporate body that is legally entitled to bear heraldic arms. The word comes from Latin armiger, "armor bearer," and entered heraldic usage via Old French and English. In heraldry, an armiger is the bearer of a coat of arms—the full armorial design associated with that individual or entity.

An armiger's rights arise from a grant or confirmation of arms by a recognized authority, such as a sovereign or heraldic college. The grant defines the armorial bearings, typically including a shield, and may include a crest, motto, and supporters. These elements together comprise the armiger's personal or institutional arms and may be displayed on seals, documents, and monuments. In many jurisdictions, arms are inheritable by legitimate heirs, sometimes with cadency to differentiate branches. The term "armigerous" is used to describe someone or a family bearing arms.

Modern heraldic authorities exist in various countries; examples include the College of Arms in England and Wales, the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland, and national authorities in Canada and Australia. An armiger may be a private person, a corporation, a city, or another organization granted arms. Women can be armigers in their own right where the law allows; spouses may display heraldic marks but do not automatically pass armiger status to others.

In ordinary usage, "armiger" is a formal designation indicating heraldic status. It is most commonly encountered in heraldic contexts, genealogies, ceremonial occasions, and official seals. The concept remains a central part of the study and practice of heraldry, linking identity, lineage, and status through recognised arms.