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Above are two versions of one of several coat of arms awarded to
a member of the Swale(s) family. Although no coat of arms applies to a
family, rather to an individual, this coat of arms may have belonged
to one of our ancestors. Click on either image for a larger
(download-able) version.
Arms: Azure, a fess nebuly argent.
Crest: A greyhound courant ermine collared azure.
Motto: Jesu, esto mihi Jesus. (Jesus, be my Savior/Healer.)
Source: Burke's The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Color Key:
Silver or White (Argent): Peace and sincerity.
Blue (Azure): Truth and loyalty.
Ermine (white with black spots): Represents fur; Dignity.
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Source: Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A Dictionary of English and
Welsh Surnames With Special American Instances. Baltimore:
Genealogical Publishing, 1967. Originally published London, 1901
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The Zhao family name is a very ancient and honored Chinese name. It
was the family name of the Song dynasty emperors from C.960AD to
C.1276AD. Not coincidentally, it is the first name on the list of
"100 family names" compiled during the Song dynasty. The images above
are of the traditional and simplified forms of this name,
respectively. The character for the family name was sometimes used in
ancient China in the form of a flag or banner for a family or clan.
Along with the seal or "chop" which was used in place of a signature
to identify an individual or office, these characters served some of
the purposes of the family crest used in Europe. The "chop" below is
of a famous painter with the Zhao family name. The traditional form of
the Zhao character, in what is called "seal style" can be seen in the
upper right corner.
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