Coat of Arms

Quoted from Winget / Wingate Families in America by Esther Mae Winget Warner

A Coat of Arms is a relic of medieval times of the amorial insignia which was embroidered upon the cloth worn over the armour to render a Knight conspicious in battle. Coat of Arms were later systemized and the insignia commemorated the adventure and achievements of the founder of the family who bore them. No one within the United Kingdom is entitled to bear arms without an hereditary claim by descent or a grant from a competent authority.

The Wingate-Winget Coat of Arms is blazoned as follows, according to Burke, Sable a bend ermine cotised or between six martlets of the (gold). The martlets denote a mark of cadency and strict diciplinarian; one who adheres rigidly to the details of dicipline. The diagnal bars denote an honorable orinary; the ermine bend is a mark of high rank.

There are several crests (Insignia worn on the head) used by different early branches of this family. The crest was not generally adopted until the time of the last Crusades. It served to distinguish the leaders in battle and was worn as a mark by their followers. The Crest herein given signifies the origin of the name and is the one claimed by the American Wingates. Several copies in possession of members of the family are claimed to have been made from the original brought over by the emigrant, John. It is the crest of the Bedforshire, England branch of the family. Another Crest of the same shire is a "hindshead". One branch of the family has a Crest that has a tree rising out of a rock with the motto "Per ardua surgo", meaning "I rise with Difficulties". The Scotland brand of the family has two Crests: An arm in armour, embowed, in hand a scimitar, ppr. with motto "Suum Cinque", meaning "To every one his own"; the second Crest has a tower ar, with cupolu and flags gules. All families use the same shield but Crests vary.

In recent research, one John Wingate who lived in "Muskita Quaters," St. Mary's County, Maryland, died in 1747 and his mark looks very much like the Wingate Crest - a gate of the field. This would lead one to believe this branch of the family also traces back to the English family although at this time no positive proof is at hand.