Heraldic authority


A heraldic authority is defined as an office or institution which has been established by a reigning monarch or a government to deal with heraldry in the country concerned. It does not include private societies or enterprises which design and/or register coats of arms. Over the centuries, many countries have established heraldic authorities, and several still flourish today.

Europe

Azerbaijan

The commission deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. It is composed of five members appointed on a four years mandate by the Minister: jurist, heraldist, archivist, historian and visual artist. Pursuant to article 10. Law on the local self-government units, all municipal coats of arms have to be made and blazoned in accordance with heraldic rules. Ministry will issue armorial to municipality in the form of a booklet composed of 8 pages. The Armorial is made in three copies of which one is obtained by : unit of local self-government, Croatian State Archives and the Ministry of Public Administration.

Czech Republic

The subcommittee deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. The grants of arms approved by the committee are signed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Republic has no heraldic authority for personal arms.

Denmark

Holy Roman Empire
  • Reichsherold
Bavaria
  • Reichsherold
Prussia
  • Oberheroldsamt – dealt with noble and municipal arms.
  • Königlich Preussisches Heroldsamt
Saxony
England and Wales
Northern Ireland
  • Until 1943, Northern Ireland came under the Ulster Office; since then, it has fallen under the College of Arms part of the jurisdiction of the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms which also covers the counties of England and Wales North of the River Trent.
Scotland
  • Court of the Lord Lyon, headed by the Lord Lyon – grants personal, municipal, and corporate arms; it is illegal to bear arms in Scotland unless they have been granted or recorded by the Lord Lyon.

    Africa

Kenya

  • Kenya College of Arms, headed by a Registrar, and forming part of the Attorney-General's Office – grants and registers personal, municipal, and corporate coats of arms. It was established by the College of Arms Act of 1968.

    South Africa

  • Department of the Interior – inter alia registered the arms of associations and institutions, as "badges".
  • Provincial administrations – inter alia registered the arms of municipalities in their respective provinces.
  • Department of Education, Arts & Sciences – inter alia registered the arms of associations and institutions, as "badges".
  • Bureau of Heraldry, headed by the National Herald, and forming part of the National Archives & Records Service – registers personal, official, military, municipal, and corporate arms. Together with the Heraldry Council, it forms part of the National Archives and Records Service, which is currently under the authority of the Minister of Arts & Culture.
The Heraldry Act 1962, which governs the Bureau of Heraldry, has not been changed to replace "State herald" with "National Herald". Announcements in the Government Gazette of South Africa still use "State Herald".

Zambia

  • Colours Control Board – inter alia registers the arms of associations and institutions, as "badges".

    Zimbabwe

  • Registrar of Names, Uniforms, Badges and Heraldic Representations, forming part of the Patents Office – registers official, municipal, corporate, and personal arms.

    Asia

Philippines

  • Philippine Heraldry Committee – government coat of arms, seals, and other symbols of state
  • National Historical Commission of the Philippines – absorbed responsibilities of the Philippine Heraldry Committee after the Reorganization Act of 1972. Final approval of works required from the Office of the President

    North America

Canada