I have just received a framed family crest / coast of Arms for part of my family from a relative who recently passed away. It is the (although from what I have found there are many)Jackson family crest, but I can't find it anywhere on line, only different ones. It has the latin phrase 'Malo Mori Quam Foedari' (I would rather die than be dishonored),but so do a lot of other crests..... My Jacksons were from Yorkshire. How do one dwtermine which line gets which crest, or would the one that I have (which is very old) have morphed into something more modern? How can I find what makes it special to MY family? Any help would be appreciated, can send a photo if necessary. Thanks!!
Laurie

My understanding of it is, The coat of arms is awarded to the person themselves and can't be used by other family members unless it is differenced in some way. For instance a coat with three white sheep has to be changed to say one black one for the son.

Suggest you take a look at the College of Arms site at http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/

The first item on their FAQ page is:

Q. Do coats of arms belong to surnames?

A. No. There is no such thing as a 'coat of arms for a surname'. Many people of the same surname will often be entitled to completely different coats of arms, and many of that surname will be entitled to no coat of arms. Coats of arms belong to individuals. For any person to have a right to a coat of arms they must either have had it granted to them or be descended in the legitimate male line from a person to whom arms were granted or confirmed in the past.

Thank you for the tip! I have submitted a request to the college, hopefully they can help. I had no idea these things were that specific, especially with all the cheesy websites that offer to 'sell' you your families! Thanks again!!!!!

Laurie

Just for info, there are 56 Jackson entries in "Burke's General Armory", 4 in the "Supplement to Burkes GA" and 9 entries in Morant's "General Armory Two". "General Armory Two" is a volume dedicated to the corrections and additions to Burke's General Armory and the Supplement.

Three of the 56 Burke's GA entries bear the motto that you mention.

Can you let us see an image of the actual arms so that we might be able to identify just which one it is likely to be. Armed with that info, you will then have to do your homework to see if there might be any paternal bloodline connection.

Here it is....pardon the flashmark in it...it is behind glass in a very old frame and I do not have the nerve to take it out. It looks to me like it was all hand done - it is beautiful.

Laurie