Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon i.e., shield, surcoat, or tabard a latter two being outer garments. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central part of the full heraldic achievement, which in its whole consists of a shield, supporters, a crest, together with a motto. A coat of arms is traditionally unique to an individual person, family, state, organization, school or corporation. The term itself of 'coat of arms' describing in sophisticated times just the heraldic design, originates from the relation of the entire medieval chainmail 'surcoat' garment used in combat or preparation for the latter.
Rolls of arms are collections of many coats of arms, and since the early modern Age centuries, they hold been a quotation of information for public showing and tracing the membership of a noble family, and therefore its genealogy across time.