Cadency

Cadency is a system used in heraldry to indicate a family member's rank or relationship through specific marks or symbols added to a coat of arms, known as a crest or shield. These marks help distinguish, for example, a younger son or a different branch of a family from the main line. They ensure clarity about inheritance and family connections, especially when multiple related coats of arms are used in history, symbolizing different generations, titles, or roles within the family lineage.