United States heraldry

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The coat of arms as it appears on the Great Seal of the United States, agency emblems, passports and embassies.

The escutcheon also appears by itself on (for example) the seal of the United States Coast Guard.

Heraldry in the United States was first established by European settlers who brought with them the heraldic customs of their respective countries of origin. As the use of coats of arms may be seen as a custom of royalty and nobility, it had been debated whether the use of arms is reconcilable with American republican traditions. Families from English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and other European nations with a heraldic tradition have retained their familial coat of arms in the United States. Several founding fathers also employed personal arms and a great number of Americans continue to do so.