Heraldry had become so well accepted across Europe by the 13th Century, that it was necessary to establish it's rules and terminology, which have remained as the basis of its present day laws and language. In England the specialists in this field of expertise had become known as heralds when it first began to be regulated, therefore the term "Heraldry" was given to the practice.
The earliest historical documentation of the use of symbols adopted into armory was found back in the time of the ancient Egyptians. Many of the symbols and designs they utilized are still incorporated in heraldry today. Heraldry itself did not begin until around the 11th century in Continental Europe. The first ancient recorded Coat-of-Arms was discovered on the monumental effigy of the Count of Wasserburg, in the church of St. Emeran, in Ratisobon, Germany. The ensigns were "per fess argent and sable, a lion rampant counterchanged", and it was dated 1010. The earliest known shield featuring family armorial designs in England was that which King Henry I presented his son-in-law, Geoffrey of Anjou, when he was knighted in 1127. Heraldry became so widespread throughout Europe and the British Isles during the 14th and 15th centuries that to aid and regulate it's growth, England incorporated the College of Arms in 1484. By this time, it's application had evolved from wartime use to the design and granting of Family Crests and Coat of Arms to most of the prominent noblemen and landowners of the era. It played a functional role in the popular tournaments and competitions which were staged for centuries. With the passing of the tournaments during the 16th Century, heraldry changed from a functional art to one of decoration.
The Victorian Age brought about a revival of simple, spirited heraldic design during the 19th Century.
Growth in family genealogic study during the 20th Century has also prompted a revival of strong interest in heraldic art. Heraldry is now used as a decorative art, displaying the early symbols associated with our ancestors, and forms a proud link with our family heritage.
