A heraldic authority is defined as an office or institution which has been established by a reigning monarch or a government to deal with heraldry in the country concerned. It does not include private societies or enterprises which design and/or register coats of arms. Over the centuries, many countries have established heraldic authorities, and several still flourish today.

Europe

Belgium

Burgundy

Croatia

The commission deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. It is composed of five members appointed on a four years mandate by the Minister: jurist, heraldist, archivist, historian and visual artist. Pursuant to article 10. Law on the local self-government units, all municipal coats of arms have to be made and blazoned in accordance with heraldic rules. Ministry will issue armorial to municipality in the form of a booklet composed of 8 pages. The Armorial is made in three copies of which one is obtained by : unit of local self-government, Croatian State Archives and the Ministry of Public Administration.

Czech Republic

The subcommittee deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. The grants of arms approved by the committee are signed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Republic has no heraldic authority for personal arms.

Denmark

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Holy Roman Empire Bavaria Prussia Saxony

Hungary

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

(Note : although the office was established in 2019, the necessary legislation was passed only in 2021, and the regulations bringing it into operation were gazetted in 2022. All grants and registrations made between 2019 and 2022 were gazetted in April 2022, to make them official.)

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Slovakia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

England and Wales Northern Ireland Scotland

Africa

Kenya

South Africa

The Heraldry Act 1962, which governs the Bureau of Heraldry, has not been changed to replace "State herald" with "National Herald". Announcements in the Government Gazette of South Africa still use "State Herald".

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Asia

Azerbaijan

Philippines

North America

Canada

United States

Oceania

New Zealand