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"COAT ARMOUR, or Surcoat. A loose garment worn over the armour of a knight; hence the term coat of arms. On this garment were emblazoned the armorial bearings of the wearer." -Hall, 1862

Coat Armour

"COAT ARMOUR, or Surcoat. A loose garment worn over the armour of a knight; hence the term coat of arms.…

Marshalling is the art of correctly arranging armorial bearings. Two or more coats of arms are often combined in one shield to express inheritance, claims to property, or the occupation of an office. Marshalling can be done in a number of ways, but the principal mode is impalement, which replaced the earlier dimidiation which simply halves the shields of both and sticks them together. Impalement involves using one shield with the arms of two families or corporations on either half.

Marshaling

Marshalling is the art of correctly arranging armorial bearings. Two or more coats of arms are often…