English authorities on heraldry assign five coats of arms to different branches of the Close family.

First and most notable of these is that conferred upon Nicholas Close, native of Westmorland, by Henry VI in 1448-9, for his services as architect and overseer of construction of Kings College, Cambridge. Nicholas Close was doctor of divinity, one of the six original fellows of Kings College and chancellor of the university.

He was educated at King's College, Cambridge, being elected a fellow in 1443, and served as a commissioner to Scotland in 1449. He was Archdeacon of Colchester before being promoted to the bishopric of Carlisle in 1450 ; transferred by papal provision in 1452 to the bishopric of Litchfield and Coventry, where he died in October, 1452.

Arms: argent, on a chevron sable three passion nails of the first on a chief sable three roses argent.

Note, the term 'Family Crest' is often used interchangeably with 'Coat of Arms'. Technically that is not correct, as aCoat of Arms was issued to an individual not a family. AFamily 'Crest' is a symbol that sits upon the Helm within a Coat of Arms, and was used to distinguish between Arms of members of the same family.