Armorials

Armorials are collections or compilations of coats of arms, usually in manuscript or printed form, that document the heraldic arms granted or borne by families, towns, corporations, and individuals. The term derives from heraldic tradition and is used to describe anything relating to arms (armes) or heraldic arms. An armorial typically presents arms with associated blazons—formal descriptions of the design—often accompanied by crest, supporters, motto, date of grant, and attributions of ownership or lineage. They may be organized alphabetically by surname, by territorial jurisdiction, or by design motifs, and can be found as rolls, manuscripts, or catalogues.

Historically, armorials arose in medieval and early modern Europe as reference works used by heralds, genealogists, lawyers, and noble households to verify arms, trace lineage, and establish eligibility for heraldic rights. In England, Scotland, and other kingdoms, official or semi-official compilations were produced under heraldic authorities and preserved in national and private archives. With the growth of national heraldic offices, armorials became more standardized, though many surviving copies are manuscript and richly illuminated.

In modern times, armorials remain important to scholars of genealogy, design history, and heraldry. Digital and bibliographic projects increasingly consolidate armorial information into searchable databases and encyclopedic references, while the term continues to describe any collection that lists heraldic arms and their owners.