The designs appearing on family crests were chosen generations ago to express things of symbolic importance to the heads of the family, representing their occupations or enthusiasms or allegiances. When researching these images many people turn to internet sources and end up with quite generic patterns that may or may not make impressive tattoos. For instance in this pattern the crosses on the shield were quite small, and the red lion looked like a mouse floating above the helmet. By enlarging those elements to prominence the meaning remains, the symbolism as described in the ancient books of heraldry is preserved, and the tattoo is greatly enhanced.

Garfinkel Family Crest Tattoo by Pat Fish