BERNARD Coat of Arms & Family Crest - Vintage Print Matted and Backed - Ready for Framing**

This is from a New York dealer's small stock of matted and backed (See note below) Heraldry  prints I bought out a decade ago, and also identical to my larger inventory of vintage (c1920s) currently in my store, which are beautiful metallic ink full color prints of the English, Irish or Scottish Family Crest/Coat of Arms.  This print is for the:

Bernard Family

This design is identified from Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book, 1907, as English, featuring a muzzled and collared bear in the shield and a demi-bear muzzled and collared in the crest.

The motto is "Fer et Prefer" -- Bear and forbear

Not perfect but very nice - See Condition Notes below

NOTE:  Nicely matted -- the mat is NOT attached to the backing board.  This is actually quite helpful when fitting into a frame, as it allows easily trimming of the backboard for a better fit (without risking damage to mat).   The matted print is 11" X 12", a common frame size.

Family History: This is a well-known European surname, that traces back to at least the 400s AD, derives from the old Germanic personal (first) name Bernhard or Bernard that was popularized due to the fact that it was the borne by St. Beranrd of Clairvaux (1090-1143) who was the founder of the Cistercian monastery.  There was also another well-known Catholic saint bearing this personal name: St. Bernard Menthon (923-1108 AD) who founded Alpine hospices. Bernard is a masculine given name that is likely of West Germanic origin and was particulary popular among Old Frisian speakers. 

The name is French, English, Dutch, Poland, Czech, and Slovenian. It is a baptismal surname meaning “the son of Bernard”. It derives from the words bearn or bairn (child) and the Teutonic word ard (nature or disposition). Hence the name literally translates to a person with a child-like disposition. Another source states it derives from the word beorn (heart), meaning one of stout heart. Another source claims the root word bern means bear and hard means hardy, brave, or strong.

Common spelling variants and names with similar etymological origins include, but are not limited to, the following: Bernards, Barbard, Bernardson, Barnett, Berners, Bernhardt, Bernucci, Bietatowicz, Benthy, Bernat, Burnard, Bernarde, and Bairnard.

NOTE:  Nicely matted -- the mat is NOT attached to the backing board.  This is actually quite helpful when fitting into a frame, as it allows easily trimming of the backboard for a better fit.   The matted print is 11" X 12"

At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armor encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armor. Between the 11th and 15th centuries it became customary for surnames to be assumed in Europe, but they were not commonplace in England or Scotland before the Norman Conquest of 1066. Note: A Coat of Arms is sometimes also called a Family Shield, Code of Arms, Family Seal or Family Crest

Size: Approx. 11" x 12" and ready for framing. The crest image itself is very good size, almost 4-1/2" X 5-1/2". This is a very striking print and would look great framed.

Condition:  Not perfect, but very good 

I have a similar (but unmatted) inventory of approx. 200 different English and Scottish origin Coats of Arms - Names from J to W. Please inquire about your family name.

<<< CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER FAMILY COATS OF ARMS >>>

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS/EBAY STORE ITEMS 

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History-On-Paper

I am proud to have sold to customers in the following countries: Argentina - Australia - Austria - Azerbaijan Republic - Belgium - Brazil - Canada - China - Cyprus - Czech Republic – Denmark – Ecuador - Egypt - Finland - France – French Guiana - Germany - Greece - Hong Kong – Iceland - India - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Japan - Latvia – Lithuania - Malta – Malaysia - Mexico - Netherlands - New Zealand - Norway - Paraguay - Peru - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Puerto Rico – Romania –  Saudi Arabia - Seychelles - Singapore - Slovenia - South Africa - South Korea - Spain – Sweden - Switzerland – Thailand -Turkey - Ukraine - United Kingdom - and  the 50 United States.

Item C0823-4155M Bin #4