I am sending this message again, because I don't know if it went out
over the rootsweb or not. I attached a bmp file of the Casey coat of
arms which I apparently was not supposed to do. So forgive me if this
is a duplicate. Original message follows:
Good information from Tim on the armorial bearings of the clan Casey.
You will find different historical accounts for the various Casey clans
depending on whose book of peerage you look at. I for the most part use
Burke's General Armory, By Sir Edmond Burke. This book of armorial
bearings and heraldry deal only with the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh
names. Which are the primary peoples of the celtic (kel`tic) race. You
can also include the Bretons, Manx, and Cornish as well as some other
little known septs. I am not however suggesting that Burkes peerage is
the best reference, use what you like and if possible consult other
material. I try to impress upon people in my talks and seminars that a
coat of arms does not necessarily belong to anyone of the same name.
For instance; just because your name is Casey, you don't necessarily
have the right to display that family crest as your own. That crest was
bestowed upon some person by a King, Queen, or other high ranking
person of ultimate authority as a reward or distinction of favor. It is
his right to allow or dis-allow those of his family to display it as
theirs. So the descendants of that person where normally authorized to
wear and display the family coat of arms. BUT ONLY THAT FAMILY. In
Europe it is illegal to wear the armorial bearings of another family.
And you may be prosecuted for the crime. So, if you can prove lineage
from that family -wear it. If you can't but want to wear it anyway - do
as your conscience dictates because it is not illegal in America. I
wear it because I could be a descendant and you could too. I don't know
if you can read an attachment on e-mail through rootsweb but I am
attaching the color coat of arms of CASEY
Roger A. Casey