# Why are buildings called "Arms"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-buildings-called-arms/376925
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 18, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-buildings-called-arms/376925 "2006-10-18T12:59:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@QCgrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QCgrrl)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-buildings-called-arms/376925/1 "2006-10-18T12:59:18Z")
Why do some buildings, primarily apartment buildings and hotels, have “Arms” in their name? Does it have any relation to weapons or armories?
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-buildings-called-arms/376925/2 "2006-10-18T13:17:28Z")
Comes from the [coat of arms](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms) which was (still is?) used ornamentally on the armor, clothes and residences of royalty.
Regard: [The Royal Arms Hotel](http://www.royalarms.co.uk/Intro/index.html).
I suppose an apartment building could have originally been owned by a prestigious family and the family’s coat of arms is displayed somewhere on the building. Or it could just be a gimick to make the property look sort-of-old-fashioned-in-a-European-way. Like modern day businesses calling themselves Ye Olde Muffin Shoppe.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-buildings-called-arms/376925/3 "2006-10-18T16:17:37Z")
It probably goes back to England’s pubs. Pubs used to serve as inns as well as drinking establishments. And a sign with a coat of arms and a name like “The King’s Arms” is a stereotypical icon of a pub.