The "coat of arms" was a distinctive feature of every medieval family worth recognizing, and was as defining as their name.
The standard coat of arms consisted of a base shield, a motto banner, a family name banner, symbols that represented their class, values and family business, and sometimes animals that defined the family. The coat was colored with the family's two colors, often including purple for royalty. No two coat of arms were exactly alike, because a distinct family's coat of arms was as unique to that family as their name.
Gokey - Gschwind Coat of Arms
This is my family's coat of arms. It consists of an eagle, for Honor and Strength, a dragon, also for Honor and Strength, a winged crown with the fleur de lis representing Love, Acceptance, and Honor, and finally a simple crown symbolizing Honor and Acceptance. Our motto is Family is Forever, meaning that once your family, you're always family. Our family name(s) are on the bottom banner; Gokey as my biological family name, and Gschwind for my stepfather, whom through all four traits has earned a place on the Gokey family crest.
Shown above are but a few of the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of family crests, or coat of arms, proudly displayed during the Middle Ages; a few are still worn today in monarchistic nations. Some are more intricate than others, but each represents the bearing family in a specific and unique way.