The Bowen American Herald.

General information concerning coats of arms.

A coat of arms or full achievement of arms, is sometimes mistakenly called a "family crest".The coat of arms are a design which is created and represents an individual. The individual may pass the coat of arms down to his children,however some variation or element ( mark of cadence) is added by each descendant.
Coats of arms that are created for an individual do not belong to and therefore can not be claimed by everyone of the surname of the coat of arms. A person that can prove direct descendancy from the person that registered the arms, may have claim to the arms.

To the left is an example of a crest from the shield of James Bowen of Llwyngwair.
James Bowen was Born b: abt.1550 in Llwyngwair,Pembroke,Wales.
He died abt. 1629 Camarthan,Wales

The crest is a Rampant Lion with a Bowen knot.

Few people who use a coat of arms and crest today have any right to do so. Armorial bearings do not appertain to all persons of a given surname but belong to and identify specific members of one particular family. Coats of arms and crests are a form of property and may rightfully be used only by the male-line descendants of the individual to whom they were first granted or allowed. Such grants were and are made by the appropriate heraldic authority acting under the sovereign. These authorities are: (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) the College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BT, and (for Scotland) the Lyon Office, New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT. In the Republic of Eire, the relevant official is the Chief Herald of Ireland, Genealogical Office, 2 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Eire. In order to discover whether an inherited right to arms exists, it is necessary to trace one's male-line ancestry back as far as possible and then to examine the official records of the heraldic authority concerned.

	A common and popular Coats of Arms attributed to the Bowen family.  The common Bowen crown of arms displays the classic shield shape. Stag, Buck or Deer :trippant ( walking ) with arrow. One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony is skillful , politic, a lover of harmony. In Irish arms, the Stag was one of the most ancient of charges and was regarded as the most handsome. The Stag represents the ancestors of the Celtic race.
	Bowen Herald revision of the Bowen Common Coats of Arms. The common Bowen crown of arms displays the classic shield shape.
	Bowen Herald revision of the Bowen Common Coats of Arms. The common Bowen crown of arms displays the classic shield shape.
	A modern Bowen Herald Coat of Arms. The chief style shield : Symbolizes dominion, authority, wisdom, achievement in battle. Has a broad band across the top of shield containing the uppermost 1/3 of the field in the metal silver (White).

[ Coat of Arms elements explained ] [ the Bowen family web ]

The Bowen American Herald 2003

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