More about the
Coat of Arms:

Crispell Coat of Arms Report

The Crispell Coat of Arms as described in 
"Armorial General "
by J. B. Reitstap 1884, 
vol.. 1, page 762

" De gules a' une main fermee d'argent, accompagnee des trois cygnes du meme "

"A red shield, with a silver closed hand, surrounded by three silver swans "

The Crispell crest is a silver swan.

When "arms" were established, by the Heralds, they were a written description of a unique set of signs and symbols in a specific arrangement and specific colors.

The figures that were used on the actual shields were very simple because they were cut out of different materials and simply fastened to the shield. Later of course, artists drew them for other uses and included the helmet and crest, as well as the mantel. (The crest was the figure that was worn on top of the helmet and the mantel was a scarf like cloth that was also worn on top of the helmet and covered the neck)

The drawing that was accepted by the Crispell Family Association when it was formed in 1967 was drawn by Miss Clare McVickar Ward, following research that Reuben Crispell had commissioned. 

"Coat of Arms " is an often misused term. The original meaning was literal, meaning a coat, worn over the armour which displayed the arms. Today it is synonymous with a shield of arms and the adjuncts of crest, wreath, helmet, mantel and motto.

Roger Crispell drew the versions shown above in order to simplify the original and make it more suitable for use in small sizes and in black and white. The latest version is a further simplification. The shape of the shield is in keeping with arms that were drawn in the 14th and 15th century. The mantel has been drawn to look like cloth that has been shredded in battle; the origin of what was later drawn to look more like vines. The swans on the shield have been drawn, as though swimming, to simplify and to be more graceful. There are other more subtle changes which were made to be consistent with the 15th century style of drawing which seem to me more interesting and appropriate for our current applications.

The origin of the motto is unclear The book titled "Armorial General", referred to above, is a well respected source of "official arms" and exists in many libraries including the Detroit Public Library and the Newberry in Chicago.