In case you were wondering, there seems to be a discrepancy as to which Coat of Arms is correct (There are two shown below for the Robida family). However, it is possible that both are correct (see Excuse me, but there's no such thing as a Family Crest - The Term "Family Crest" -- A Problem of Semantics? - Interesting Article by Fleur-de-lis Designs www.fleurdelis.com. If you have any insight about either of these Coats of Arms, please share it with us.

Robida

Coat of Arms

The Distinguished Surname

Robidas

Coat of Arms

A gold shield with a black rose.

 

Heraldry emerged in France in the mid-12th century, beginning with the knights and nobility choosing coats of arms for themselves. It was not much later that the other social classes such as the bourgeois, and even peasants were assuming arms. By the 16th century, the French Kings had begun attempts to register and regulate coats of arms under their authority. Following the French Revolution, in 1790, nobility, orders of knighthood and heraldry were abolished in France. The display of coats of arms was banned, until Napoleon re-established heraldry and titles in 1814. Today, there is no French Heraldic authority granting or registering arms: anyone is free to assume arms. In France, a coat of arms is considered property of the family in the same way as the family name, and enjoys the same legal protection.

Gold, or in heraldic terms "or," was considered the noblest color. One of only two metals used in heraldry, it exceeds all others in value, purity and finesse. It represents the light of the sun, and was once borne only by princes. Gold is said to gladden the heart and destroy all works of magic. It is also associated with excellence and achievement, and the bearer surpasses all others in valour. It is represented on coats of arms by the color yellow, and in engravings by an indefinite number of small points.

Black, the coldest of the colors, corresponds to lead. Black, or "sable," is symbolic of sadness. It also corresponds with winter and is a humble color, suitable for the deeply religious. It denotes the qualities of knowledge, piety, serenity and work. Engravers represent it with numerous horizontal and vertical lines crossing each other.

The rose is a symbol of hope and joy; it is first among flowers and expresses beauty and grace. With a red blossom, it is a symbol of martyrdom. The white rose expresses love and faith; in Christian symbolism, it signifies purity. The yellow rose is a symbol of absolute achievement. The conventional form of a heraldic rose displays five petals that mimic the look of a wild rose on a hedgerow. The famous Wars of Roses, between the red rose of the house of Lancaster and the white rose of the house of York, ended after the succession of the Tudors to the throne. After this, the heraldic rose developed a double row of petals which was obviously in effort to combine the rival emblems. During the reign of the Tudors there was a more naturalistic trend in heraldry, and stems and leaves were sometimes added to the rose. Heraldry has accomplished what horticulture could not, and roses can be found tinted blue, black and green, in addition to the more natural colors.

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See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms for information about the proper use of the Coat of Arms.

Excuse me, but there's no such thing as a Family Crest - The Term "Family Crest" -- A Problem of Semantics? - Interesting Article by Fleur-de-lis Designs www.fleurdelis.com.