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Below are my personal arms or achievements. They do not belong to other members of the family, which is often misunderstood. Arms do not belong to families, but they are registered under a person's name or your ancestors. It is, in fact, illegal to use a coat of arms, or call them yours if they are not registered.
My arms are registered under the number Norfolk 38/15, at the Royal College of Arms in London.
Legally, the bearings are defined not by any given image, but by a written description in blazon, the technical language of heraldry. Any depiction of the bearings which satisfies this blazon is considered to be heraldically correct.
The blazon of the bearings in question runs as follows:
Arms: Quartered, First and fourth, Azure a Lion rampant ducally crowned holding in the dexter paw a Fleur-de-lys in chief two Mascles Or for Wardlaw. Second and third, Per fesse dancetty Azure and Or in chief two Fleurs-de-lys and in base a Fesse dancetty all counterchanged.
The first and fourth quarters (top-left and bottom-right) pertain to Wardlaw and consist of a blue (Azure) background; at the top (in chief) are two gold (Or) diamond-shaped outlines (Mascles); below them is a lion rearing up on its left hind leg (a Lion rampant), wearing a standard heraldic coronet (ducally crowned) and holding in its right (dexter) forepaw a fleur-de-lys, all of which are likewise gold (Or).
The second and third quarters (top-right and bottom-left) pertain to Plowden and consist of a background divided in two by a horizontal zig-zag line (Per fess dancetty), being blue (Azure) in the top half and gold (Or) in the bottom half. In the two half are two gold (Or) fleurs-de-lys, and in the bottom half is a blue (Azure) horizontal zig-zag stripe (a Fesse dancetty).
Crest of Wardlaw: On a Wreath of the Colours A demi Eagle displayed Sable charged on the breast with an Estoile and on each wing with a Mascle Or.
This means a rope-like wreath at the base, composed from two lengths of fabric coiled together and appearing alternately gold (Or) and blue (Azure), these being the two main colours of the coat of arms; out of the wreath rises the top half of an eagle (a demi Eagle), which is black (Sable) and has its wings outspread (displayed); on each wing is a gold (Or) diamond-shaped outline (Mascle); while on the eagle's breast is a gold (Or) star with six wavy points (Estoile).
Crest of Plowden: On a Wreath of the Colours Issuant from a Mount Vert a demi Stag Gules attired and gorged with a Collar dancetty and resting the sinister hoof upon a Cinquefoil Or.
This means a rope-like wreath at the base, composed of two lengths of fabric coiled together and appearing alternately gold (Or) and blue (Azure), these being the two main colours of the coat of arms; out of the wreath rises a green grassy mound (a Mount Vert), from which in turn rises the top half of a stag (a demi Stag), which is red (Gules) with gold antlers (attired ... Or) and a gold zig-zagging collar around its neck (gorged with a Collar dancetty ... Or), and which rests its left (sinister) forehoof upon a gold (Or) stylised five-leafed plant (Cinquefoil).
