Can anyone have a coat of arms?

Anyone can design a coat of arms and use it personally, and in the United States anyone can adopt one. An official grant is narrower. Each heraldic authority decides who qualifies, usually by nationality, residence, descent or standing. In Scotland, using arms that the Lord Lyon has not granted or recorded to you is against the law.

The College of Arms grants to people it judges eminent, through honours, a degree, a professional qualification or public service, and to Americans descended from a British subject. The Court of the Lord Lyon takes petitions from people living in Scotland or of proven Scottish descent. Canada accepts its citizens and organizations. The Chief Herald of Ireland has paused new applications.

Sharing a surname gives you no claim, as does every last name have a coat of arms explains. For the process, see how to make a coat of arms official, or start a design in the coat of arms maker.