Crest vs Coat of Arms: Understanding the Difference
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Crest or Coat of Arms? What’s the Difference? Many people use the terms “crest” and “coat of arms” interchangeably, but they are different. A coat of arms is a heraldic design granted to an individual, not a surname. It can sometimes be inherited along specific lines, but others sharing the surname are not automatically entitled…
Family Crest Gifts That Create Meaningful Memories
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Many presents are enjoyed for a moment, then quietly forgotten. However, some gifts stay in a home for years and become part of family life. That is often why family crest gifts remain such a popular choice. At least that’s what our customers tell us. A well-chosen print can feel personal, thoughtful and lasting. It…
Why Your Review Matters
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Have you ever left a review after visiting an independent shop, café or attraction? If so, you may not realise just how much your feedback helps. A single review can encourage someone to visit a business they might otherwise have walked past, while also giving small independent businesses like ours the confidence to continue doing…
Hall of Names Joins TripAdvisor
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Hall of Names has officially joined TripAdvisor, and we’d love to hear from the people who have visited our shop in Dunster. Since opening our doors in this beautiful medieval village, we have welcomed visitors from across the UK and around the world. Many arrive while exploring Dunster’s historic streets, while others seek us out…
Why Do People Change Their Surnames?
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Why do people change their surnames? The reasons are surprisingly varied. Some surnames change through migration, marriage or adoption, while others evolve because of spelling variations, clerical errors or personal choice. Many people assume surnames remain unchanged throughout history. In reality, family names often develop and evolve over generations, creating the fascinating variety of surnames…
Why Do Scottish Surnames Start With Mac?
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Why do Scottish surnames start with Mac? It’s a question we are often asked, so in this post, we hope to answer that question and more relating to Scottish surnames. In brief, the prefix Mac comes from the Gaelic word meaning “son of”. It was originally used to identify a person as the son of…
Why Do Some Surnames Have More Than One Coat of Arms?
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Why do some surnames have more than one coat of arms? The answer lies in how heraldry developed. Historically, coats of arms belonged to individuals rather than entire surnames. Over the centuries, different people with the same surname could acquire, inherit or be granted different heraldic arms. This often surprises people researching a surname coat…
