can i get a family crest tattooed on me?
Posted by felonysawait@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 212 comments
my family have traced our Rowe's back to the Rowe's of Lamerton and i just found a line of them in the visitations from 1547 to 1653 and they have a whole page dedicated to the Rowe of Lamerton i want born in England so i may not no my English family but i am 60% English by DNA. the page even has our family crest spelled out how it looks. i just don't wanna offend any brits.
CheSaOG@reddit
Not a single person in this country will be offended, but if you ever show that tattoo to an Englishman they will absoluteley find it both ridiculously cringey and hilarious.
Why don't you get something that actually has influenced your life in some sort of way, something from the place you have grown up? Not some country your family hasn't been involved with for hundreds of years.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
i have i have a whole arm dedicated to the state of California where i was born and raised and a arm of nothing but metal bands that i grew up listing to i also have orcs on my ribs straight out the Warcraft 2 manual
CheSaOG@reddit
sounds good bud, at the end of the day you'll do what you want but by the sounds of the post you are weary of the judgement passed by brits on this, and they will judge I can tell you that much.
Also not sure if you are aware but the coat of arms were historically used by those of the 'upper classes' and not the majority of families in the UK. So even more judgement there by most brits.
BeerElf@reddit
You're right. That "crest" or whatever it is, if your family was connected to it it would be akin to being branded as a slave. Given the feudal system in the UK, if the lord of the manor wanted you to go and fight French people, or go on a crusade, there would be nothing you could do about it. If he wanted to kick you off the bit of land you rented from him, and turn it into a hinting park, again nothing you can do about it.
I've got a tattoo in Latin, I have Italian ancestry but not sufficient to get a passport. so no, I'm British.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AskUK-ModTeam@reddit
AskUK is a "catch-all" subreddit for questions about the UK life and culture, but this does not mean we accept any and all questions or answers. We are liable to remove posts or comments which are best discussed in more specialised subreddits, or are simply not desired here because of the problems they bring.
We explicitly do not allow questions or answers on or including:
politics (r/askukpolitics, r/unitedkingdom, r/ukpolitics)
technology (r/techsupport, r/technology)
relationships (r/ukrelationshipadvice, r/relationships)
DIY (r/diyuk)
university/education (r/sixthform, r/uniuk)
visas/citizenship (r/ukvisa)
medical advice (including mental health) (r/mentalhealthuk)
ranting/venting (r/britishproblems)
surveys (r/samplesize)
advertising/solicitation (including the mention of brands which could be perceived as marketing)
repetitive/seen-often (just search the sub)
"does anybody else" type vent posts (as yes, someone does, be more specific or use r/britishproblems).
questions based on protected characteristics, such as race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, etc. subject to moderator discretion.
...and we may remove others if we believe they are liable to introduce problems for the subreddit.
In some circumstances, a more appropriate subreddit may be available. Check the sidebar for other subreddits to have these discussions. Also see r/unitedkingdom's extensive list of subreddits; https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/wiki/british_subreddits
Gigatron8299@reddit
Not until you learn to use apostrophes correctly
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
Optimal_Collection77@reddit
The comments on this are brutally funny 🤣
AskUK-ModTeam@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question.
Howthehelldoido@reddit
American?
AskUK-ModTeam@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question.
East_Stick_1964@reddit
Say you're American without actually mentioning your nationality
AskUK-ModTeam@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question.
Jesisawesome@reddit
Only permissible on the face, I am afraid.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
DisastrousUnicorn@reddit
😁😁😁😁😁
Wd91@reddit
Yes, but only in certain locations depending on local by-laws. And you need to specially request permission from the King.
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
DisastrousUnicorn@reddit
On Mondays under a full moon with the blood of a virgin obtained through prima noctae
Less_Local_1727@reddit
Sorry the minimum is 61%. Bad luck
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
Mr_Bumcrest@reddit
If you gave that explanation to a British person, you would be laughed at
DisastrousUnicorn@reddit
Honestly mate, we're all giving you a hard time but don't take it to heart 😛
You're genetically more English than I am!
AceOfSpades532@reddit
This post is so American lol
egvp@reddit
My only thought. Only an American would want to do this. 😂
batty_61@reddit
This whole thread reminds me of a post (not sure if it was on Reddit) by an American who had discovered he had Polish ancestry, travelled to Krakow and no doubt shared this piece of information with every Pole he met, and was terribly sad, angry and disappointed that nobody cared and nobody wanted to be best friends with him.
DisastrousUnicorn@reddit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzlMME_sekI&t=149s&pp=ygUTc25sIGlyaXNoIGFtZXJpY2Fucw%3D%3D
batty_61@reddit
That's fantastic! Thankyou!
SelfSufficientHub@reddit
Or think any of us would give a shit wether they did
Wobblycogs@reddit
Looking at OP's post history he has a history of mental problems.
EricPhilps1979@reddit
Everyone called Rowe in the UK - "We have a family crest?"
theocrats@reddit
"60% English"
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
40% delusional
AceOfSpades532@reddit
100% American
Shot_Net3794@reddit
It reminds me of those Scottish Americans who obsess over what clan they're from and think it's still a thing these days
neemarita@reddit
My grandfather immigrated from Scotland and it’s funny when other Americans brag to me how they’re so Scottish as their family came here in the 18th century. Me: Buuut you’re not?
I def am just… American.
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
You mean Americans
BigPurpleBlob@reddit
"i am 60% English by DNA" – you share about 60% of your DNA with a banana (a lot of the biochemistry is the same, though different lifestyles)
MattWillGrant@reddit
Put whatever made up, tenuously linked, Victorian identity nostalgia you want on your body.
Call_Me_Janice@reddit
Victorian is 1837-1901. This is roughly Tudor era. I agree with your point though
MattWillGrant@reddit
The idea that your surname directly links you to historical noted people with the same surname is most definitely Victorian shite.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
Like I said in my other comment, my mom has been doing genealogy since she was 16. She's almost 65. She's been doing her entire life. It has our tree going back as far as she can until she gets brick walled. And then she keeps going at it until she gets past the brick wall and she keeps going farther back.
Affectionate-Owl9594@reddit
Just because she’s spent a lot of time on it doesn’t mean it’s correct.
Tall-Reputation-9519@reddit
Spending a lot of time often boils down to picking which of 6 possible John Smiths from a parish is the most interesting and saying that one's your ancestor.
Beautiful_Hour_668@reddit
You can be related to someone but not be of their family. That's not how lineage works bro
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
Yes I'm related to house york too my great grandma last name is york
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
Do you think everyone with the same surname is related?
Like…Bill Murray and Andy Murray?
HugeSydneyFan@reddit
Well, all I know is that Felonysawait's mom told me they are. So it must be true.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
No but my mom is an avid genealogist and she has lines going back far enough on our lines of Ro York, Van Zant. She's almost got the Welsh line cracked pretty far back. Either way, she's got it down to the point we can pinpoint the exact person we're related you from how you work. She is 65 and has been studying our family tree since she was 16
Hardie1247@reddit
Just think for a minute - Why does this crest actually matter to you at all? You don't know any of this ancestry, the family name is essentially meaningless, if you want something to celebrate your mom and her career as a genealogist, get something related to her personally, really what this sounds like is the typical "American trying to make themself sound more cultured/exotic by claiming grand ancestry in a far off land as a talking point". It just seems a bit silly to a Brit.
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
Van Zant? The guy from 38 Special?
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
Or maybe his brothers from Lynyrd Skynyrd?
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
Your mom's been doing genealogy for 49 years and still doesn't understand the basic concepts of ancestral lineage?
Sounds like she needs to find a new hobby, she's clearly shit at this one.
Friendly_Yak_2713@reddit
You realise when you go that far back basically everyone is related to everyone? This exercise is meaningless unless there's a consistent linking factor (house, location, business etc)
MattWillGrant@reddit
And at that far back - I, and hundreds of thousands of other people, with different surnames, will be as directly related to that person as you.
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
No. You aren't.
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
And I’m half horse because my mothers maiden name was Redrum 😂
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
It's not Game of Thrones
Affectionate-Owl9594@reddit
That’s…not how that works
Trick_Will_4679@reddit
Everything is made up.
MattWillGrant@reddit
Metaphysically? Maybe.
vercingetafix@reddit
In British heraldry a coat of arms belongs to an individual, not a family. That being said no one will care or be offended if you get a tattoo of it
Stans_____Dad@reddit
Having seen the family crest - I would highly recommend getting this tattooed… the bigger the better.
But you may not be aware, but full and accurate colours have to be used
sameoldkit@reddit
You'll be fine, it's not Game of Thrones here. Aristocracy are generally not well regarded, rather seen as nepotists and work-shy landowners. I'd want to check for "skeletons in the closet" first though for example, was the family ever involved in any shady business
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
If they were landowners in 1800s England then they definitely “owned” slaves.
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
Not necessarily. If they were plantation owners in the new world then you would be correct.
Benefitted from slavery is more likely but still not a guarantee. At least directly.
Future-Exercise-7433@reddit
We tend to laugh at Americans who make their historical ties to the UK or Ireland a huge part of their identity. It's a bit ridiculous to us. If you don't mind that, crack on.
Significant-Cry-8442@reddit
Offended? OP is the only one going to be offended when people laugh at them
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
Hey man I have friend in england he's a music teacher and plays in local orchestra and if recall his post months ago his lady friend was sick so he subbed for her in the Cleveland Orchestra.
Professional_Snow576@reddit
My aunts neighbours friends dog is Scottish, he doesn't play in the Cleveland Orchestra.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
He also plays in the Cleveland philharmomic orchestra.
NorthernSausages@reddit
Are you having a stroke?
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
And no, I'm not gonna post his name or anything like that, and dox him, but I'm literally friends with him
Hardie1247@reddit
Why don't you tell us about your own achievements, rather than telling us how amazing people you know in passing are? It's like saying "I once met an actor at a signing, therefore I'm interesting"
Entire-Emotion-819@reddit
With whom?
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
And literally nobody cares
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
I just checked his Facebook, he plays in the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. I don't know if the Cleveland Orchestra, but it's called the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. And he's literally got pictures of him on a stage playing a giant, classical bass in the fucking concert.
Professional_Snow576@reddit
I was just poking fun at the fact your reply makes no sense to the comment you replied to. Still doesn't.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
Ok
SelfSufficientHub@reddit
KoalaUnlucky6513@reddit
Oh that's Geoff. Plays the recorder. Good bloke Geoff. See him down The Feathers on a Thursday.
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
Do you think we all know everyone in England?
Future-Exercise-7433@reddit
Oh well in that case, sorry what??
Jamie1386@reddit
What the hell are you on about?!
WheresMyCamel@reddit
Lmao what
BakaMetaru@reddit
It won't offend any rational Brit. If you choose that way to celebrate your heritage, go for it.
Todds_Gift_Painting@reddit
Yes bro 💯 get it no ragrets
Temporary-Zebra97@reddit
As coats of arms go its not a bad design and would translate to a tattoo, it wouldn't mean anything to anyone else or offend them, they may think you have a fondness for carnal relations with sheep.
My mrs has a wooden plaque of her clan crest in the hallway was about £30 from one of the tourist tat shops in Edinburgh, maybe get one of those made for your wall instead of committing to ink.
Still_Membership2640@reddit
Yes, you can.
Most Brits won't be offended if you get a family crest or coat of arms tattooed, especially if you've genuinely researched your ancestry and have a documented connection to that family line. The idea that family crests are somehow "off-limits" to descendants born outside the UK isn't really a thing for most people.
That said, a small historical note: in traditional English heraldry, a coat of arms was technically granted to a specific individual and legally passed down through certain lines of descent, rather than belonging to everyone with the same surname. So from a strict heraldic perspective, sharing a surname doesn't automatically give someone the right to bear those arms.
But for a tattoo? That's a personal expression of your heritage, not a legal claim to nobility. If you've traced your family back to the Rowes of Lamerton and feel connected to that history, I don't see why anyone would reasonably take issue with it.
I'd just make sure the design you're using is actually the coat of arms associated with your documented ancestors and not one of the many generic "surname crests" that genealogy websites sell.
As an English person, I'd be more likely to think, "That's pretty cool that you traced your family back that far," than be offended by it.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
my mom has she been doing genealogy since she was 16 she almost 65 now
the01li3@reddit
My dads been a carpenter for all his life, we arent about to crucify him.
buy_me_lozenges@reddit
Honestly despite all the jokes and digs you're getting, it's actually nice, generally, that you're concerned about offending anyone. A lot of people have horrible and yes offensive tattoos done and don't care who sees them, it's incrediby polite of you to consider whether this would be perceived as inappropriate.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
I have an English friend and he has never really given me an answer and I def don't wanna offend him but I try and be respectful of people cultures and traditions just like most the rest of dna is scandinavian and I don't like white surpermist trying to take norse culture and appropriate it
the01li3@reddit
Isnt white supermist the foam cannon spray you use to wash your car?
You are doing the equivalent of saying "i can wear a sombrero cos im 1% Mexican" like no ones going to be annoyed you are wearing it, but theyll think you are a pillock for using that excuse of wanting to wear it.
King_Kongs_fingers@reddit
Couldn't give a toss mush.
the01li3@reddit
You wont offend anyone, but youll look like a right lampshade. It is not "your family crest" its someone that is so distantly related to you, it doesnt matter. Have you done anything thats even to do with England? Born in US, but grew up here? Moved here? Parents directly English?
My Grandad was Polish, theres nothing about me that i would consider to be Polish and it seems silly that i would try to relate anything about myself to it, particularly something permanent on your body. At least in like 26 generations your descendants will say "well my great great... etc grandad once got a crest tattoo so i must be English too."
In theory everyone came from Africa, we dont all have the n-word pass just cos.
LewisMileyCyrus@reddit
I would wager less than 1% of people in the UK could even tell you what their family crest looks like, nobodys going to take offence
and if they do, laugh at them
kinvig@reddit
Well, I'm expecting a "Lion Rampant" on mine - a bit of crest-related trivia I gleaned from watching The Big Bang Theory's "Fun with Flags" segment. 😄
Normal-Height-8577@reddit
Less than 1% of people in the UK have a family crest. Because they've always belonged to specific individuals and their heirs, and not everyone in that family)with that surname.
wjhall@reddit
Some might laugh in the same way as some Americans saying their irish when they're 1/128th, but no-one is going to get offended. But this kind of heraldry isnt really the sort of thing any acerage brit cares about.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
I'd have to ask my mom again but one of the places was middlelands the dna profile broke it down to the places my family on both side of my ancestors are from in the the UK
Glum_And_Merry@reddit
I was doubtful before but now I’m sure this must be satire! I think you’ve got everyone going, OP
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
There are hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of Americans exactly like this
Call_Me_Janice@reddit
You really don't understand how DNA tests work. Anything beyond your 2nd or 3rd cousin and it's just giving you a broad generalisation based on known profiles in those regions. They are not accurate beyond that
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
Hush, don’t you know OP is 0.45% from Coventry and 0.12% from Nottingham?
Eyupmeduck1989@reddit
It’s the Midlands
Zichu@reddit
Shhhh, I grew in the middlelands, it's right in the middle of the midlands. Can't get any closer to the center of England than that 👀
fickle_tartan@reddit
Come on man, you can't even get the place name right for your pretend ancestry?
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
Middlelands
Lmao yes please get the tattoo
Repulsive_Dance_6673@reddit
Good of you to check. No one in England would be offended by it.
But despite your name being Rowe it’s very unlikely to be your crest, as crests do not belong to surnames and i belive they only follow specific lines of decent in the male line.
Any self respecting Brit will also find it hilariously American and daft, as the comments on this thread already show.
There is probably a better tattoo to celebrate your name or family history.
Alternative-Emu2000@reddit
That isn't the Rowe Family crest. It's the crest of one specific member of that family who died over four hundred years ago. The crest isn't passed down to future generations.
If you're OK with having someone else's crest tattooed on you, then that's your decision.
British people won't be offended, but will probably think you're a bit of a div. I suspect the reaction would similar to a Chinese-speaker seeing a badly translated Chinese tattoo that the wearer claims says "Hope, peace and love" but actually says "Parking for customers only."
Call_Me_Janice@reddit
I wish I could upvote this more than once. You nailed it.
Praetorian_1975@reddit
You can have whatever you want tattooed on you, that’s entirely up to you. Whether it’s tasteful or appropriate is an entirely different matter. But please tell me what part of America are you from 🤔
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
California i was born the san Fransisco bay area home of too short, e-40, mac dre, metallica, exodus, death angel, huey lewis and the news crew band and jouney and yea i have a california tattoo on whole arm is dedicated to that state
Captain_Piccolo@reddit
Why have you decided to list all the musicians from your local area? That’s an odd way to explain where you’re from.
Most people in the UK know where California is as when understand how to use a map, unlike where you’re from.
audienceandaudio2@reddit
It's your body, your choice ultimately, there's nothing "offensive" about it, no Brits would care. If you're tracing a lineage back 500+ years, that's about 20 generations, so one great (x20) grandparent might have this heritage, it's extremely tenuous.
Call_Me_Janice@reddit
Do what you like with your body. No Brit will be offended. You personally should not claim to be British unless you have entitlement to a British passport
This would in fact be a great way to show you have zero cultural connection to your British ancestry. I can't imagine any Brit ever having such a thing because the ones who actually still care about or use their ancestral coat of arms are generally not the sort to get tattoos
Surely if you are 60% by DNA your British parent can give you this information
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
My rowes have been in the us revolution
Call_Me_Janice@reddit
So you are not British at all. You are 100 percent American. I can understand being ashamed to be an American at the current time, but we all laugh at Americans who claim to be from other countries (it's usually English Scottish or Irish).
While your family were off having the revolutionary war half of mine were French, they followed Napoleon to Russia, then moved though Poland and Germany and my great grandparents came to England in Victorian times. We are talking around 10 generations. I'd be an idiot if I claimed to be 60% French
DNA 'washes out' in approximately 5-8 generations. Anyone past your great grandparents you are on tenuous ground
Get your tattoo if it makes you happy, but don't pretend to be something you are not
XJK_9@reddit
You’re not gonna offend anyone with this but you will get laughed at
Marshwiggletreacle@reddit
The best way to do this is to think,
Did Henry the 8th have a Crest? Yes he did
Did he tattoo it on his body? No he did not!
Did Mr Darcy have a Crest? Yes he did
Did he tattoo it on his body? No he did not!
Neither did Darwin or Charles Dickens or that flower seller woman from my fair lady.
Nobody who ever had crests and even fewer people who don't have crests ever tattooed it on themselves.. it's such bad form.
You can however put it up on your home, above the front door.
If you dont have a front door you should attach it to your car bonnet.. I'm sure people would appreciate your endeavers
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
Mr Darcy, the fictional character in a fictional novel?
Marshwiggletreacle@reddit
How very dare you!!!
Please remove yourself from my presence
BitIntelligent4486@reddit
sorry about the negativity, but yeah i thought it was a cool idea but i'd want to make sure it is my family's crest, bit embarrassing if you visit uk and then someone told you it wasn't, not that someone will but what if. good luck!
BitIntelligent4486@reddit
i just googled it and there is only one 'rowes' crest showing up and the rest of them are 'rowe' also i'd stick with black ink only if i was you
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
naw my mom last name is rowe i using as a plural
Dennyisthepisslord@reddit
Are you sure it's your actual family line? Do you have a family tree that directly connects? On my surname family line I have so many people and family crests wouldn't necessarily be connected with those in my direct bloodline
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
like ive said several times now mom is an avid genealogist and has been doing this since she was 16 and is almost 65 now
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
yea john rowe second boat after mayflower son of hugh rowe devon
Jamz3k@reddit
My family traces back to France but I’ve never felt the need to get a tattoo of a baguette.
kaja6583@reddit
"I am 60% English DNA"
Lol sounds like youre 100% American tbh.
If you wanna tattoo a random crest on you, sure. But it isnt your family crest. Thats not how crests work.
Silent-Tea4500@reddit
Every caucasian American has family links to the UK, your country is barely 300 years old
If you and your parents have lived in America your whole life, then you're American, not English.
To put it in perspective, two people born in England 1550, who had two kids, who then went on to have two kids so on and so forth would have 120,000 living descendants today, what's so special about that?
Nobody would be offended if you got it done, but it's not a good look at all. It really comes across like you've absolutely scraped the barrel for anything that makes you feel special.
Normal-Height-8577@reddit
I mean if you want to, then go ahead, but a family crest is actually kind of meaningless to most Brits.
But you should also know that most companies that promise to tell you "your family crest" are frauds. Because if you're going for strict historicity and legality, an English coat of arms/crest is not like a Scottish clan badge that belongs to all members of a family. The college of heralds grants the right to display arms to individual people, and sometimes their direct heirs. If more indirect relatives want a coat of arms or a crest, they should be looking to commission an official who can modify their relative's coat of arms to make something unique but related. Otherwise you're basically wearing someone else's arms.
Again, it doesn't really matter nowadays and I don't know of anyone who's been pursued by the law for using a coat of arms that doesn't belong to them (unless it's a commercial company), but... it's a little weird.
Dazz316@reddit
60% English by DNA. That "English" DNA will be a mix of Roman, Saxon, Viking, all sorts. DNA means nothing in that context. Hell, you could be part Vietnamese from some trader who sailed over at some point and had sex with you great great teat....etc etc grandmother.
These days, your family name is simply something that goes back 3-5 generations and the rest is losely connected history. Unless you're royalty it kinda just a light fact, not a part of your identity in any shape. Until I made my account private, I used to get messages from Americans saying we're in the same clan (I'm Scottish) and the only clans people ever talk about are online ones, and even then that term has died out now.
The best you'll get from people here with the name Rowe is a police smile, and an eyeroll behind your back.
LeftyTimStoutheart@reddit
No-one is going to care, just get the tattoo. Also "English" is not an ethnicity so now idea where the probably dodgy DNA company got that from.
MagicBez@reddit
Ethnicity isn't defined by DNA either way though. It's about shared attributes like language, culture, traditions, society, religion, history etc. as well as ancestry.
Anxious_wank@reddit
Nobody is going to get offended. Also, no one is going to care.
It was hilarious when my Dad was heavily into family history, spent years doing it. Americans would come along trying to take all the information, and do none of the work. He started telling them all wrong information, so there's a lot of Americans out there who probably have the wrong family crest tattooed on their body.
ArcTan_Pete@reddit
Genealogy is one of my interests. My comments:
1) No one would care (Unless you are using it to defraud)
2) Most people who claim family crests have nothing other than a 'same name' relation to the actual 'original owners' of the crest.
3) Rowe is not an uncommon name.
4) It's very unlikely that you have a full genealogical claim to your particular crest - however see point 1)
StaticUsernamesSuck@reddit
Get the kings own crest tattooed on your asscheek for all anybody cares, mate...
Bright_Tap4495@reddit
I’d be more offended if you had a Leeds tattoo 🤷🏻♂️
GarlicEmergency7788@reddit
Coats of Arms are for the individual, not the bloodline
Someone in your family used it, sure, but it is not "yours"
Feel free to get it done if you think it's cool still
No_Base4946@reddit
People in the UK would probably be more offended by being called "Brits", it sounds like some kind of oven cleaner.
A-Willow-Wand@reddit
Actually it’s a water cleaner and the s is a typo
No_Base4946@reddit
Hah, shit, good spot, I hadn't thought of that 😃
living2late@reddit
You must be American right? Nobody else thinks like this.
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
I love St Patty's day
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
You can't even get the name right.
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
But I'm 12.75% scotch of course I love St patty's
Jesisawesome@reddit
itsfeckingfreezing@reddit
We won’t get offended, but we will think you are a tit and laugh.
fickle_tartan@reddit
And seeing as OP is not actually English, they probably won't be able to handle the piss taking they'll get for it.
felonysawait@reddit (OP)
My family comes from devon
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
In a different comment you said they were from the Midlands. Well, I assume that is what you meant by 'middlelands'.
Devon is a long way from there.
You are not English. The tattoo would be tacky. And, as others have said, it is not your crest.
First-Archer-3457@reddit
Seriously, no one cares.
MrMonkeyman79@reddit
That doesn't change the answer.
OverTheCandlestik@reddit
Why would it be offensive?
Your body your choice.
EatingCoooolo@reddit
You can tattoo it, never looks good. It will just be a random thing to everyone.
IndigoQuantum@reddit
No one's really going to care - but the whole 'family crest' or coat of arms thing is generally seen as a bit tacky as just because you're descended from someone who had a coat of arms doesn't mean you're entitled to use it. Basically if your 1st male child direct lineage goes back at least 500 years, you live in a house that's at least the size of Downton Abbey (with a second home in Belgravia for 'the season') and you own or are set to inherit at least half a county then people will nod with approval (though probably not at a tattoo) - anything else will mark you as a middle-class wannabe with aspirations above his station.
The reality is that once you go back over maybe 600-700 years, just about anyone with UK roots can selectively trace their lineage back to some great family.
Hollyhop_Drive@reddit
Nobody's going to be offended, but we will think you're a prat. Sorry.
Winston_Carbuncle@reddit
I agree except for the sorry bit
fickle_tartan@reddit
Maybe it was a test, if OP were truly English they'd know that it was a completely meaningless 'sorry'
ReceptionNo4565@reddit
So long as you can accurately trace and have concrete evidence, I don't see why not. As another Redditors have said, I doubt you'll find anyone who actually cares what you get placed on your body.
DeemonPankaik@reddit
You will have to get a licence for it, and declare it at customs if you ever enter the UK.
You could be subject to a DNA test to check you are eligible for the Crest. If you are not, you could be fined and denied entry to the country.
thb202@reddit
Americans desperately trying to cling to culture from living in a soulless hellhole 😂
FelisCantabrigiensis@reddit
Tattoo what you like on yourself. The Garter King of Arms isn't going to come after you for that.
If you get too precious about your far distant ancestry, prepare for some eye-rolling. Nothing to do with the tattoo and everything about being too far up yourself.
If you have it because you think it looks interesting and it happens to be a very distant ancestor, no-one's going to care much.
HashDefTrueFalse@reddit
Nobody will care at all. Most won't even know what it is without you explaining first. Some will cringe a bit. Get whatever tattoos you like.
DisastrousUnicorn@reddit
I never understand why Americans care so much about coats of arms or family crests. We don't. They mean nothing. No one even knows any of their own.
You do you, pikachu.
Ok_Music253@reddit
Its because they have no cultural heritage in their own country so need to latch onto something. Your local village pub is older than their entire country.
AmphibianNo8598@reddit
No but we’ll think you’re stupid. You’re not English mate.
HelloLucrehulk@reddit
You’re 100% American, get it and link us to your r/tattooregret when you’re done
BaBaFiCo@reddit
It's very important to say that it's not your family crest. That's not how it works. So you won't offend anyone. You'll just look a bit silly. Bit it's your body and who cares what we think.
Altruistic_Cress_700@reddit
Exactly
The Collage of Arms in the UK will know if the crest still exist and if it does, who is the holder.
And unless it's the OP is the actual holder, they are putting someone else's crest on their tattoo.
HeelysForDogs@reddit
You don't have a family crest, your understanding of this is from fantasy novels not history. Tracing a relation to someone who used it doesn't make it yours, and trying to claim it feels a bit tacky to me.
RTB897@reddit
Go for it, no-one in the UK will know what it means or care.
There are probably many many thousands of people with Anglo-Saxon heritage with a similar claim to that particular family crest given the number of generations and the huge number of children they liked to have!
Rubberfootman@reddit
You can get a portrait of the king above an NHS logo, we don’t mind.
miffyonabike@reddit
This would be much more culturally relevant!
InspiringGecko@reddit
Thank you. I laughed out loud at this.
Rubberfootman@reddit
Then my work here is done.
Cariad_rae@reddit
Depending on the family history, you are more likely to offend someone from a country colonised by us. We don't care about your ancestry
hairymouse@reddit
If you visit as a tourist and want to tell UK people about your family history they’ll just think you’re another deluded tourist. If you whip off your shirt and start showing your massive family crest tattoo, they’ll remember you forever.
WideGassySea@reddit
It’s your body. Knock yourself out.
I know we laugh at Americans desperate desire to belong but it’s cute.
And you’ll have a good story to tell about why you have it.
And no, no one will be even slightly offended.
Good luck.
pgnlzbth@reddit
You can have whatever you want tattoo’d on you! Go for it!
miffyonabike@reddit
60% English DNA is not a thing. Our nationality is cultural, and what you're proposing to do is not relevant to our culture at all.
UrMomDotCom666@reddit
sure but maybe keep the tattoo in a discreet area before you get made fun of
ConstantBewildered@reddit
I don't think anyone will be offended, but prepare for people to roll their eyes when you tell them what it means.
Milam1996@reddit
This is so American. It’s not your family crest.
meadowender@reddit
Literally no one over here cares but just bear this in mind before you get your tattoo. Crests were awarded to individuals, not whole families, just sharing a name means nothing really. Also, some websites just invent crests so check multiple sources
DisastrousUnicorn@reddit
I'm actually more offended by the out of place apostrophe.
It's Rowes, not Rowe's.
MannyBobblechops@reddit
The Rowes of Lamerton?!! My goodness me, they stole my entire life savings and my wife! If I ever catch you with their FAMILY CREST tattooed on you, oh Jesus there’s no stopping what I’ll do to you 😡
JusNoGood@reddit
You won’t offend brits by doing this. No-one will know what it is or care.
_Jay-Garage-A-Roo_@reddit
Your body, your choice. So long as you’re aware it’s a bit cringey, crack on.
KaiCypret@reddit
Nobody will be offended but they may think you're a weird loser. There is no such thing as a "family" crest. Arms are granted to individuals (and corporations) not to families. So you could not have any right to bear, claim, or display arms and claim them as your own without an application to the College of Arms. But they're not going to send a heraldic hit squad after you, so do what you like.
InspiringGecko@reddit
Brits won’t be offended. They’ll just laugh at you.
Twisted1379@reddit
Nobodies could possibly be offended.
IMO It is ridiculously lame though.
NotAndyBurnham@reddit
No one would be offended but I think most people would struggle to understand a tattoo based on who owned the land your great great great great great great grandfather was a farmer on.
SimpleExpress2323@reddit
As someone who is English and does genealogy, I can assure you one in the UK will care in the slightest.
Urban-Bodhisattva@reddit
You can get a tattoo of King Charles sucking off Jimmy Savile for all I care
MrMonkeyman79@reddit
Don't worry you won't offend anyone, though we will find it equal parts hilarious and tragic.
ArchonBeast@reddit
You can, but people may cringe if you bring it up. No one cares about crests, and getting one of a family that isn't yours is a bit odd... I've seen worse on people though, so, eeh
Longest_boat@reddit
I can’t begin to tell you how much nobody gives a fuck
tradegreek@reddit
I don’t think anyone will be offended but it could be a bit tacky. That said looking at a lot of football fans tattoos I think you’ll be alright 🤣
ResplendentBear@reddit
At least it's not some white guy from Essex covered 30% in Maori tattoos.
BubblerSpesh@reddit
Spend the money on something worthwhile instead of
Marshwiggletreacle@reddit
I'm a Brit, I would be offended.
ZestyMonstera@reddit
Not offended but I think most people wouldn't really get it and would find the explanation a bit odd.
yessirnosirmaybesirr@reddit
your body mate. get whatever tattoos you want.
Beneficial-Pitch-430@reddit
Do what you like. No one’s going to care about a family crest.
Snoo3763@reddit
Yes, do it. No Brits will be offended.
ProfessionalSky7531@reddit
The main thing is that heraldry is less about nationality feelings and more about historical accuracy. If you treat it as a personal ancestry tribute rather than a literal claim of noble identity, you are in completely normal territory for tattoos.
Smelly-Bottom@reddit
You offend yourself.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.