Description
Maryland’s colony was originally founded by Cecil Calvert and this is why the Calvert family black and gold coat of arms is on the flag. George Calvert adopted his coat of arms, which was slightly different, in that it included both his paternal and maternal family; hence, the Maryland state flag. (The red and white design on the opposite quadrants is from the Crossland family, George Calvert’s mother.) Adopted in 1904, Maryland is the only state flag that is based on British heraldry.
