Crest

A crest is the figure that sits on top of the helmet above the shield in a coat of arms. It began as a real sculpted ornament worn by knights at tournaments. Its base is usually wrapped in a torse, a twisted roll of cloth in two tinctures.

People often say family crest when they mean the whole coat of arms, but strictly the crest is only the part on the helm. The mix-up comes from the habit of showing the crest and torse on their own, apart from the shield. In English and Scottish heraldry, arms and crests belong to one person, not to everyone with a surname, as the family crest vs coat of arms guide explains. That is also why not every last name has a coat of arms.

In the coat of arms maker, the starting design already has a great helm above the shield. Open the Helmets and crests group on the Charges tab for other helms and mantling, then place any charge, such as a lion's head or an eagle, on top as your crest.