Darken Coat of Arms

This coat of arms was used as a bookplate by John Joseph Darken. It is possible that it was used by his father and maybe even his grandfather.

John Darken (John Joseph's father) wrote to his grandson, EJ Darken (b. 1836) on 7 Feb. 1854 about coats of arms he had sent. He said "As to the coat of arms I sent you, a mere empty and nonsensical bauble, the one.. previously sent by me were the arms of my grandmother's family, the last one I sent those of my father's family. But these are all trash, worthless. Let us be the authors of our own nobility, and raise ourselves to eminence by our own well doing, and by our own exertions to be useful to ourselves, and to others."

According to the College of Arms, the keeper of heraldry records, no Darken was ever granted the right to use a coat of arms. It is possible, therefore, that this coat of arms was 'invented' for purposes of improving someone's social status.