A family crest, part of a coat of arms, was initially used to distinguish a family in battle. It originated in Europe, and now that it is no longer needed for battle identification, it has become simply a mark of someone's heritage. A coat of arms gets its symbols and colors from the family's qualities and achievements. Mine has two lions, a sword, and two moons. The design traveled with my Irish ancestors and their territory of Ikerrin to the current day. My family immigrated to America, like many other Irish families, in the late 1800s, in search of a better life. 

The tattoo reminds me of Sunday mornings, crawling into bed with my dad, and feeling safe. “With my first tattoo, I felt it needed to have personal meaning. I didn’t have a pet, a kid, or even a girlfriend. I always thought it was neat that we had a crest at all. No real deep meaning other than identity and ancestry and searching, as a white man in America, for something other than being white and American… Plus, as you know, I freaking like swords, ok.” Says my dad. It's a story about my family's heritage, offering interesting insights into my ancestors. I am American, unlike my grandparents, who grew up Irish catholic; my heritage doesn’t have a massive impact on my life. Everybody has a different experience with their heritage, and even if it doesn't directly impact you, it is still important that you remember it. 

– PM

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more