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"Héraldique européenne"

The cited information was published by Coats of Arms for European Royalty and Nobility (http://www.heraldique-europeenne.org, Arnaud Bunel, 1998) , Internet, held in Arnaud Bunel The author/originator was Arnaud Bunel <arnaudb@wanadoo.fr>.
European Heraldry #2 Crests by Arnaud Bunel. 
  • Source Notes
      "Armigerous" (ahr-MIJ-ehr-us) adjective

      Bearing or entitled to bear heraldic arms.

      The reason the notion of a family crest was brought into the language was that those who were armigerous (entitled to bear arms) used to put their crest or achievement (the full coat of arms) on their carriage, silver, etc.  The stationers thought this an excellent way to sell more stationary and, in Victorian times, encouraged everybody, whether armigerous or not, to buy stationary with their "family crest" on it.  There was no such thing of course and they used to sell it (and some still do) on the basis that "someone in your family or someone having the same surname as you was once granted this crest - as part of their achievement.  Thereby they sold more stationery.  And engravers flourished.  The Heralds, meanwhile, lost a bit of business as their services (awarding coats with variations because no two people can have the same coat) were less sought after.

      The Shields used are family Logos, each individual with armigerous rights had individual full coats of arms to reflect their personal achievements.