Martin Family Crest framed artprint - Irish orign | Family Crests

Celebrate your family heritage with a gift to cherish – the Martin Family Crest framed and printed on museum-quality matte paper. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

The Martin coat of arms belongs to the documented Irish lineage of the Martin surname associated with the "Fourteen Tribes of Galway," a group of merchant and landowning families that directed the civic, political, and commercial administration of Galway city from the medieval period onward. The lineage settled in the west of Ireland following the Anglo-Norman entry into the province of Connacht during the thirteenth century. Historical records and registers from the Ulster King of Arms link the family's armorial origins to Oliver Martin, a knight who participated in the Crusades. This specific configuration was historically verified and recorded for the primary Galway branches of the family, most notably the Martins of Ballinahinch Castle and Ross House.

The Symbolism of the Martin coat of arms

The formal heraldic blazon describes a blue shield (Azur) featuring a silver Calvary cross (Argent) standing on three steps, positioned between a golden sun in splendor on the left and a crescent moon on the right. Above the helmet, the crest consists of a single six-pointed gold star. Within the framework of medieval heraldry, a Calvary cross mounted on steps denotes religious devotion or ancestral participation in the Crusades. The sun and moon are standard celestial charges utilized to indicate permanence, stability, and navigation, while the blue field traditionally designates the virtues of loyalty and consistency.

Notable historical figures

The lineage is directly tied to Richard Martin (1754–1834) of Ballinahinch Castle, an Irish Member of Parliament nicknamed "Humanity Dick" by King George IV for his pioneering work in legislative reform. He co-founded the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and authored the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822, which stands as the first animal protection law enacted by a Western parliament. The family line also includes Violet Florence Martin (1862–1915) of Ross House, a prominent novelist who wrote under the pen name Martin Ross and co-authored the widely read Somerville and Ross literary series, which documented late nineteenth-century Irish society and rural life. And of course there is Micheál Martin — An Taoiseach.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful and uniquely personal gifts for any occasion with family and friends.

Product details

• Printed with environmentally friendly water-based inks.
• Ayous wood frame, .75″ (1.9 cm) thick, sourced from renewable forests
• Museum-quality matte paper with a thickness of 10.3 mil (0.26 mm)
• Paper weight: 189 g/m² for durability and premium feel
• Acrylite front protector to safeguard the artwork
• Hanging hardware included for easy installation

No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order.

This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.