A Roll of Early American Arms

Personal heraldry has been used in what is now the United States since the earliest European settlements.

This roll of arms borne in the present-day United States before 1825, compiled by AHS members, is intended to document the vitality of the American heraldic tradition over the years.

Arms are included in this roll based on use as attributed by the sources given. Where it has been possible to validate the user’s right to the arms or actual use of them, that information is provided. Names given in italics indicate that we are unaware of any contemporary evidence that the person to whom the sources attribute the arms actually used them, but this should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence of non-use of the arms.

Arms are indexed by the first letter of the armiger’s last name. Names beginning with the particules “de,” “von,” “van,” and the like are generally found under the name of the principal word in the surname. Where a person bore multiple surnames, or a surname and title, the arms appear under the name by which he or she is best known in the United States.

Compiled by Eric Hall, Arian Collins, and Joseph McMillan;
Illustrated by Eric Hall, Robert Tucker, Scott Denison, Joseph McMillan, and Chuck Glass

Please Note: This Roll is under review and is in the process of being updated. If you have questions regarding this process, would like to assist, or have any questions pertaining to the sources on a particular coat, please contact Joseph McMillan via our contact form.