The Family Crest
THE PRUITT FAMILY CREST
“The wise have said that the beginning of wisdom is to know who you are”
Creator of the Crest
The Pruitt Family Crest Shield
Henry C. Ford, Jr.
By Henry C. Ford, Jr.
The design for our family crest started to take shape after I looked at coats of arms of various nations in the encyclopedia. Until then, I was really at a loss because of preconceived notions that I had about crests and coats of arms.
I had seen advertisements about family coats of arms that were "authentic" which came from England, France, Germany or whatever country the family name originated, and there's probably an "authentic" PRUITT crest registered somewhere.
But once I got beyond that "authentic" obstacle and realized that what I was hoping to do was to design an image that would say who we are, the designing process became much easier. This crest says much about who we are.
"Both the grapevine and quilt were suggestions for the crest from our first Family Reunion, and I hope that all family members will look upon this crest as non-static and open to changes or enhancements."
Crest Symbolism Breakdown
Our crest incorporates several careful symbols passed down to map our history, geography, and family talents:
Grandmother & Grandfather
Stand to either side of the shield, adopted directly from real family photographs. The shield itself is a classic heraldry element.
Eight Stars
Arching gracefully across the top of the crest, representing William and Hattie's eight children.
Hemisphere & Africa
Positioned beneath the stars to proudly acknowledge and recognize our African past.
The Open Book
Sits within the shield representing the Holy Bible, our faith in God, knowledge, and the lifelong search for wisdom.
State of Alabama Outline
Located to the right of the book with a mark specifically for Huntsville, representing where our patriarchs raised the family and our American experience.
Plowed Field & Hills
Set in the bottom section of the shield, reminiscent of the 100+ acre family farm, symbolizing freedom and self-reliance.
Egyptian Hieroglyph
A mouth symbol in the center of the shield (from which the letter "P" developed). It symbolizes our rich oral tradition and keeping the story alive across generations.
Grapes on the Vine
Resting at Grandfather’s feet to recognize his legendary wine-making talents and symbolize the sweetness of life.
The Quilt
Resting at Grandmother’s feet to recognize her unmatched craft as a master quilter, symbolizing the comfort and security of home.
