<P> Coats of arms came into general use by feudal lords and knights in battle in the 12th century . By the 13th century , arms had spread beyond their initial battlefield use to become a flag or emblem for families in the higher social classes of Europe , inherited from one generation to the next . Exactly who had a right to use arms , by law or social convention , varied to some degree between countries . In the German - speaking regions both the aristocracy and `` burghers '' ( non-noble free citizens ) used arms , while in most of the rest of Europe they were limited to the aristocracy . The use of arms spread to the clergy , to towns as civic identifiers , and to royally chartered organizations such as universities and trading companies . Flags developed from coats of arms , and the arts of vexillology and heraldry are closely related . The coats of arms granted to commercial companies are a major source of the modern logo . </P>
who used to identify themselves through a coat of arms
feudal lords knights families in the higher social classes of Europe clergy towns royally chartered organizations such as universities and trading companies