The Washington Family Crest
George Washington’s Family had a crest, or a coat of arms, which dated back to the 1300s! A crest is like a family’s logo – it is used to identify a family. George Washington used his family crest coat of arms on things like his carriage or bookplates for books in his library.
George Washington’s coat of arms had a griffin, stars, and stripes. The stars on the crest represent military service. While his coat of arms was likely not the inspiration for the flag of the United States, it did inspire the flag for the District of Columbia.
The griffin is a mythological creature, which is a hybrid of an eagle and a lion. It is sometimes used as a symbol of strength, military courage, and leadership.
